TEAM on addiction and the Downtown Eastside: an audit, care beds and Car 87
TEAM for a Livable Vancouver says it would set up a Downtown Eastside Audit, press the Province for voluntary treatment on demand and involuntary care beds, fully apply the Four Pillars approach to drugs, and expand Car 87, a Vancouver Police and Vancouver Coastal Health partnership.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Care, Addiction and the Downtown Eastside: what the Our Positions says
TEAM for a Livable Vancouver calls its safety plan "Restoring Order to Our City" and says it would replace what it sees as failed management of addiction with an approach built on recovery. On its Safety for All pages, the party says people living with homelessness, addiction and mental illness are not getting the care they need and end up relying on emergency services.
The best-known promise is a Downtown Eastside Audit. TEAM says it would support Larry Campbell, whom it names as the Province's recently appointed advisor for the Downtown Eastside, and would ask for detailed audits of funding and results if needed, so the money reaches the people it is meant for. The party would also measure needs and resources and make the gaps public.
TEAM lists the care it wants from other governments: voluntary treatment on demand, involuntary care beds, transition services and long-term support. It would fully apply the Four Pillars approach of treatment, harm reduction, prevention and enforcement, and expand Car 87, which the party describes as a partnership between the Vancouver Police Department and Vancouver Coastal Health. Housing for homeless people would be matched to each person's needs, which the party contrasts with "warehousing".
Health services, treatment beds and drug policy belong to the provincial and federal governments, so most of this chapter is about what a TEAM council would ask for and organize. The city can fund its own outreach, bring agencies together and publish data, but Car 87 expansion depends, as the party itself says, on funding from Vancouver Coastal Health.
11 COMMITMENTS
What the party says it would do
Long-term care for complex needs with the Province
TEAM would work with the Province so that people with complex needs from homelessness, addiction and mental health issues get long-term care that covers all of those needs, in place of emergency services. Its pages name voluntary treatment on demand, involuntary care beds, transition services and supports for long-term solutions.
- Who has the power
- Province Health care, treatment beds and involuntary care are run by the Province, so the city can only press for them.
A Downtown Eastside Audit
The party would establish a Downtown Eastside Audit to support the Province's advisor for the Downtown Eastside, Larry Campbell, so that the community's social issues are addressed and resources reach the people who need them, including asking for detailed audits of funding and outcomes if needed.
- Who has the power
- City, with others The city can review its own spending, but most social and health funding in the area comes from the Province and the federal government.
Measure needs and publicize gaps
TEAM would work with provincial and federal governments and other agencies to secure resources for vulnerable people and communities, measure both needs and resources, and make the gaps public.
- Who has the power
- City, with others The city can gather and publish data, while most of the resources come from senior governments.
Full implementation of the Four Pillars
The party would seek full implementation of the Four Pillars approach: treatment on demand, harm reduction, prevention and enforcement.
- Who has the power
- City, with others Treatment and harm reduction services are provincial, drug law is federal, and police are directed by the Vancouver Police Board.
Safe housing matched to each person
TEAM would seek proper safe housing for homeless people based on each person's needs, which it contrasts with what it calls warehousing of vulnerable people.
- Who has the power
- City, with others The city decides where supportive housing is approved, but the Province funds and runs most of it.
Support and training for addiction and mental health care
The party would seek access to support and training to provide addiction and mental health care.
- Who has the power
- Province Addiction and mental health care are provincial health services.
Address the overdose crisis and safe supply
TEAM would work with other governments on the overdose crisis and on what it calls the need for a safe drug supply.
- Who has the power
- Province Health policy on drugs is provincial and drug law is federal, so the city can only press for change.
Expand Car 87
The party would expand the Car 87 program, which it describes as a partnership between the Vancouver Police Department and Vancouver Coastal Health, with details set by a needs assessment and confirmation of provincial funding through Vancouver Coastal Health.
- Who has the power
- City, with others The program needs funding from Vancouver Coastal Health, a provincial health authority, and staffing decisions from the Vancouver Police Board.
Coordinate agencies
TEAM would coordinate agencies so they work together as effectively as possible.
- Who has the power
- City, with others The city can bring agencies together, but most social service agencies are funded by other governments.
Job and vocational training
The party would help arrange, with other levels of government, job and vocational training where appropriate.
- Who has the power
- City, with others Job training is funded mainly by the provincial and federal governments.
Help homeless people connect with a community
TEAM would coordinate with community agencies to help homeless and disadvantaged people find connection within a community.
- Who has the power
- City Council The city funds community grants and its own outreach work.
WHO WOULD HAVE TO ACT
Where the power sits for this chapter
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Questions about care, addiction and the downtown eastside
What is TEAM for a Livable Vancouver's Downtown Eastside Audit?
TEAM for a Livable Vancouver says it would set up a Downtown Eastside Audit to support Larry Campbell, whom it names as the Province's advisor for the area. The goal is to make sure resources reach the people who need them, including detailed audits of funding and outcomes if needed (TEAM Safety for All page).
Does TEAM support involuntary care for addiction in Vancouver?
TEAM says it would work with the Province so people with complex needs get voluntary treatment on demand, involuntary care beds, transition services and long-term supports. The Province runs these health services, so the city can only press for them (TEAM Safety for All page).
What does TEAM say about safe supply and the overdose crisis?
TEAM for a Livable Vancouver lists addressing the overdose crisis and the need for a safe drug supply among the items it would pursue with provincial and federal governments, along with full implementation of the Four Pillars: treatment on demand, harm reduction, prevention and enforcement (TEAM Safety for All page).
Would TEAM expand Car 87?
Yes. TEAM says it would expand Car 87, which it describes as a partnership between the Vancouver Police Department and Vancouver Coastal Health. Details would follow a needs assessment and confirmation of provincial funding through Vancouver Coastal Health (TEAM Safety for All page).
What is TEAM's Restoring Order to Our City plan?
Restoring Order to Our City is the name TEAM for a Livable Vancouver gives its public safety and recovery plan. The party says it would restore order, strengthen neighbourhood policing, protect people from violence and replace the current management of addiction with an approach focused on recovery (TEAM Safety for All page).
Who would pay for TEAM's addiction and mental health plans?
Most of the care TEAM names, such as treatment beds, involuntary care and mental health services, is funded and run by the Province. TEAM says the city would work with provincial and federal governments to secure resources and would publish the gaps between needs and resources (TEAM Safety for All page).
ON THE BALLOT
The TEAM for a Livable Vancouver candidates behind this
Sources
Every commitment on this page comes from the party's own material, marked SAYS SO ITSELF. It proves what the party says it would do. Who holds each power is our own addition, from the sources listed after it.
- TEAM safety for all, learn more SAYS SO ITSELFTEAM for a Livable Vancouver · checked