CLEAN UP OR ELSE

Defacement Of Property And Loitering Must Stop By Nov. 30

AIDS Vancouver Island (AVI) has until the end of November to clean up
the area near its needle exchange or have its lease terminated.

The needle exchange, called Street Outreach Services, provides
syringes and hot food and drink. Opened in 1988, it has 1,600
registered users and 25,000 visits a year.

The landlords, Yentel Property Management Inc., sent AVI a notice
asking for an end to loitering and defacement of public property by
Nov. 30.

Neighbours have complained about people sleeping outside, human waste,
blood and dirty needles. AVI has been working for more than a year to
move the needle exchange from the corner of Blanshard Street and
Cormorant Street, but has been unable to secure additional funding
from the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA).

Andrea Langlois, AVI spokesperson, said the landlords have been
patient and supportive of the organization over the years.

"People don't have a place to go," she said. "We're the only service
open after 6 p.m. and the only service open on the weekends. The
people are coming here to get harm reduction supplies, but they also
come to get a cup of coffee. It's a place to get food, a place to get
warm, and a place to talk to somebody."

AVI is funded almost exclusively by VIHA. In January, South Island
AIDS funding was cut 37.5 per cent.

In 1996 the needle exchange handed out 128,000 syringes to 545
clients. In 2006, it gave 830,000 syringes to 1,500 clients, with no
increase in funding and only two full-time staff.

"We need the health authority to step up to the plate," said Langlois.
"In the meantime, about 13 of our neighbours have got together to file
a legal case for an injunction to close the needle exchange down in
this location."

AVI's main goal is to prevent the spread of HIV and hepatitis C, which
it does through distribution of needles and condoms. Open until 11
p.m., it hosts community education programs and acts as a place for
those in need to meet street nurses. An addictions counsellor comes in
one day per week.

Langlois said that AVI has been asking VIHA to increase funding so it
can hire more people and therefore decrease the impact on the street.
Right now AVI volunteers do street clean up.

"Over a five-year period, a needle exchange program will prevent at
least 24 HIV infections," said Langlois. "One HIV infection costs
$250,000 directly to the health care system. If we prevent 24 cases,
that's a huge savings to the health care system. Our needle exchange
runs on about $250,000 a year, and we've asked for an increase to $500,000."

Langlois said there are approximately 3,000 intravenous drug users in
Victoria, of all backgrounds and social standings.

She said the needle exchange had a 104 per cent return rate for the
2006-07 fiscal year, which means it's collecting more needles than
it's giving out. The Mayor's Task Force on Homelessness Report,
released on Oct. 19, has called for the installation of five more
needle drop boxes in the downtown core.

VIHA has hired an independent reviewer to examine and report on the
needle exchange, with results expected this month.

"We're scouting locations, looking for a place, and talking to the
city about where we can move into," said Langlois. "The Mayor's Task
Force Report calls for more harm reduction services, and we need to
work with VIHA to come up with a solution based on the recommendations
of the report."