A Community Response Team providing seven-day-a-week care to the homeless population, particularly in Belleville, has had positive results.
Wednesday, Hastings County’s Community and Human Services Committee recommended county council apply for all funding opportunities to support and enhance the work of the team.
The Community Response Team is comprised of trained personnel from Hastings County, the Canadian Mental Health Association, and Hastings-Quinte Paramedic Services.
Chief of Paramedic Services Carl Bowker says the program is working.
“We’ve notice some palpable relief from frontline services in terms of their responses particularly to Bridge Street (Belleville drop-in centre) so we’re looking forward to seeing exactly where this is going, but I think there’s going to be some funding opportunities in the near future for us to have sustainable solutions.”
The Response Team works with the homeless throughout the county guiding them toward addiction and mental health services and locating housing for them.
