Calgary Harm Reduction Alliance - Outreach
Donation protected
The Calgary Harm Reduction Alliance is a grassroots harm-reduction group that has a range of lived-experience and frontline experience working with people who use drugs. We originally got together when the UCP government took over the reins, April 16, 2019, anticipating an attack against both people who use drugs, and harm reduction in general. We had high hopes and were intent on opening up an overdose prevention site, as an emergency measure, if the UCP did indeed shut down Calgary's only safe consumption site. Over the course of a few weeks, we held open meetings, discussed our options, and ultimately felt that opening a tent would be taken as hostile, and we didn't want to put potential users of our site at risk of arrest or who knows what. Health Canada then made applying for an exemption more accessible, so we thought we would try our chance at applying for an exemption. We ended up teaming up with various groups, going to various non-profit agencies in the city seeking a home for our potential site. This is where we hit a wall, and couldn't see past it.
The Alberta government hasn't closed down the SCS here, but the numbers of overdoses are going way up. The last report released by the Alberta Government said 301 people have died over the course of April - June 2020. That is almost 3 preventable deaths each day.
As we go into the fall and winter months here, Calgary Harm Reduction Alliance will be switching gears a little bit. We are going to go into the community and do outreach with harm-reduction supplies, naloxone kits, food, clothing, medical supplies, hygiene kits. We are also going to use some of the money to pay 2 people to do outreach for $15/hour which includes the transportation costs to offer harm reduction outreach and support in the city of Calgary, wherever we may be needed. Having extensive knowledge of the services and resources available to people who use drugs, and the lack of resources available, we are going to fill a need in the community, especially with COVID-19 and the subsequent reduction in services for people who are homeless, people who use drugs, and people who do sex-work.
Thank you for your donations, we will make sure that every dollar goes towards helping those in the community who need it.
Sincerely,
Calgary Harm Reduction Alliance
The Alberta government hasn't closed down the SCS here, but the numbers of overdoses are going way up. The last report released by the Alberta Government said 301 people have died over the course of April - June 2020. That is almost 3 preventable deaths each day.
As we go into the fall and winter months here, Calgary Harm Reduction Alliance will be switching gears a little bit. We are going to go into the community and do outreach with harm-reduction supplies, naloxone kits, food, clothing, medical supplies, hygiene kits. We are also going to use some of the money to pay 2 people to do outreach for $15/hour which includes the transportation costs to offer harm reduction outreach and support in the city of Calgary, wherever we may be needed. Having extensive knowledge of the services and resources available to people who use drugs, and the lack of resources available, we are going to fill a need in the community, especially with COVID-19 and the subsequent reduction in services for people who are homeless, people who use drugs, and people who do sex-work.
Thank you for your donations, we will make sure that every dollar goes towards helping those in the community who need it.
Sincerely,
Calgary Harm Reduction Alliance
Fundraising team: Calgary Harm Reduction Alliance (2)
Jessica McEachern
Organizer
Calgary, AB
Jessica McEachern
Team member
