Vancouver advocates set up pop-up overdose prevention sites

Neighbours of a cancelled overdose prevention site at 900 Helmcken Street in downtown Vancouver say they are concerned after ad hoc harm-reduction services appeared outside the vacant building.

Health Minister Ravi Kahlon recently confirmed the planned site would not proceed. Salon Origins owner Denise Meikle said she saw a table with overdose prevention site supplies on Hornby Street on Aug. 29. She said she supports life-saving harm reduction but is concerned about street disorder, aggression and violence after people use drugs.

Jens “Spoons” Petersen, who lives at the nearby Murray Hotel single-room occupancy building, said the sidewalk table offered harm-reduction supplies and water. He said the cancelled site would leave people using drugs in alleys and on streets instead of somewhere safe and supervised.

RainCity Housing, which holds the lease for 900 Helmcken, said it has focused on outreach while other community organizations set up tables because of significant local need. Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim called pop-up OPS sites organized by “random individuals” inappropriate and reckless.

Vancouver Coastal Health said RainCity alerted it to people acting independently near the site and that neither organization had advance notice. Green councillor and mayoral candidate Pete Fry said the pop-ups may be warranted because overdoses are occurring, while acknowledging poorly run sites can affect neighbourhoods.

For the remainder of the two-year lease, Vancouver Coastal Health said it will work with the Ministry of Health and city stakeholders on alternative programming, including treatment and recovery supports and long-term wellness programs.