BC Housing's plans for the new Castlegar shelter at 2245 6th Ave. include overdose prevention services (OPS).
Unlike Castlegar's current winter shelter at 1660 Columbia Ave., where drug use is not allowed on site, the new shelter will allow its residents to use drugs on the premises.
Reidun Rosi, executive director for Castlegar Community Services (CCS), the shelter's operator, confirmed the new site will have OPS inside the building. This will be a designated space where residents may use and be monitored.
"We will be providing a safe space and harm reduction supplies for this part of the program," said Rosi.
However, inhalation substances will not be allowed inside the building.
Rosi also said that health services will have a role at the shelter including OPS opiod antagonist nurses who help with withdrawals and can help someone move towards more supports.
When BC Housing's Temporary Use Permit application was before city council on Feb. 3, councillor Brian Bogle expressed concerns about the safe-use area regarding employee safety and the potential risk of exposure to harmful substances.
BC Housing's representative assured council that CCS would be operating in alignment with Work Safe protocols for overdose prevention sites.
According to Interior Health, supervised consumption sites result in less overdose deaths, reduced sharing of needles, fewer discarded needles, fewer HIV and Hepatitis C transmissions, less public drug use and increased access to services.
