A news release from Mayor Al McDonald today says a survey will be undertaken to "capture the ideas and thoughts of people with lived experience and those living in poverty."
In September, 30 community leaders gathered for an invitation-only roundtable on mental health and addictions.
See: Mayor’s Roundtable brings a sense of hope
The three-hour closed session of more than 50 attendees from a number of local organizations discussed issues including addiction, homelessness, mental health, discarded needles, and poverty.
Three priorities were set at the roundtable:
- Develop transitional housing: Work with partners to meet the needs of homeless people and people transitioning out of a hospital or residential treatment program.
- Implement needs-based planning: Work collaboratively to implement the recommendations of a needs-based assessment done on North Bay’s addiction services.
- Create community supports 24/7: Work collectively to address the evening and nighttime gap in services (between 5 pm and 9 am).
"The Action Team wanted to ensure the priorities also resonated with those most in need of the services, including people with lived experience, people living in poverty and the homeless," said McDonald. "In order to capture these voices, People for Equal Partnership in Mental Health and the AIDS Committee of North Bay & Area, along with other service providers are bringing a short survey to their clients this week, which looks to further refine and validate the priorities."
The results of this survey as well as a draft action plan to address the priorities will be shared at the next roundtable meeting on November 26.
“Poverty, mental illness and addiction are some of the toughest challenges that municipalities are facing today," said McDonald.
“This group has accomplished a tremendous amount of work over a very short period of time and has demonstrated a deep commitment to ensuring that these priorities are realized," added Mary Davis, Co-chair. "We will continue working together to build on existing programs and services and to help strengthen supports for people in the community living with mental health issues and addictions.”
