People in Kitimat who are at risk of harm or victimization will benefit from a $45,000 grant for the creation of a community-based team of front-line workers to deliver better, faster access to services.

The teams, known as situation tables, are made up of representatives from health, public safety and social service agencies. They proactively identify vulnerable individuals or families who have a significant probability of criminal offending or experiencing harm or victimization, and rapidly connect them to services before they experience a negative or traumatic event.

“As we’ve seen with various situation table groups across the province, they’re an important tool to offer different resources to those at risk of crime, gangs, as well as substance abuse and homelessness,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. “By investing in situation tables, we’re giving service providers the tools they need to provide rapid support to at-risk people, while also freeing police resources to focus on other duties.”

Funding is provided by the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General’s Office of Crime Reduction and Gang Outreach (OCR-GO). OCR-GO has invested more than $1.35 million since 2017 to develop new situation tables and enhance existing ones.

In March 2021, the ministry provided $240,000 to seven communities to create situation tables teams throughout the Province. There are currently 12 situation tables operational in B.C., with work underway on an additional nine tables.

Quotes:

Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions –

“By bringing together front-line workers from multiple agencies and not-for-profits with the RCMP, our responses to people in crisis better meet their individual needs. Situation tables both conserve police resources and connect people to the care they need. I am optimistic that this powerful tool will help Kitimat support its most vulnerable people and prevent problems from getting bigger down the road.”

Phil Germuth, mayor, District of Kitimat –

“We are very pleased to receive this funding to establish a situation table here in Kitimat. This will help connect vulnerable members of our community with the most applicable and effective resources in order to help them overcome the challenges that they are facing. Kitimat has always been a community that works together to support one another, and the situation table will be another great example of this.”