“I think this funding is likely a drop in the bucket, but it will make great impact (alongside other initiatives),” said David Slater, manager of community well-being at the City of Regina.
The City of Regina has been granted $667,000 from the federal Emergency Treatment Fund, which was launched in the fall to support urgent responses amid the opioid and toxic drug supply crisis in Canada.
Regina was one of 300 applicants to request financial assistance through the $150-million national initiative — and one of just 60 selected to receive funds through a two-year deal with Health Canada.
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Executive committee endorsed the deal on Wednesday, passing it along to city council for final approval next week.
“We hope that this is a good news story,” said city manager Niki Anderson.
Once delivered, the funds will be available to local non-profits and Indigenous organizations who apply through an expression of interest process. Grassroots organizations won’t be eligible to receive any of the funds unless they partner with an eligible entity.
The one-time grant will be used to support the purchase of safe supplies, eight new vehicles to transport clients to services, three full-time peer workers, and a peer outreach training pilot program for people seeking low-barrier employment.
Safe supplies can include items like condoms, warm clothing, clean needles or any other materials that align with a harm reduction philosophy.
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David Slater, manager of community well-being with the City of Regina, said the funding aligns with action items from the city’s Community, Safety and Well-Being Plan, adopted in 2022.
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“I think this funding is likely a drop in the bucket, but it will make great impact alongside the substance use priorities within that plan,” Slater said.
The federal funding will be offered in addition to the city’s existing harm reduction grant program, which provides $500,000 per year to community-based harm reduction initiatives.
In 2023, eight organizations received funding from that pool, serving 11,800 people with services varying from needle pick-up, Naloxone training, food and clothing deliveries, and referrals to addictions treatment or housing supports.
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