NEEDLE EXCHANGE LOCATION EYED

A building in the Burnside-Gorge neighbourhood has been singled out
as the frontrunner for a new fixed needle-exchange site.

An agreement looks promising for the new pilot project, said Robert
Randall, a member of the needle exchange advisory committee.

It's been 14 months since the needle exchange on Cormorant Street
closed. Ever since, the Vancouver Island Health Authority has been on
the lookout for a replacement building.

Resistance from landlords has been a major reason why alternative
sites fell through, Randall said. The landlord in the Burnside-Gorge
building, however, likes the idea. "He supports the idea of harm
reduction ... To find a landlord OK with this is pretty amazing," Randall said.

VIHA confirmed that one landowner has come forward with a proposal to
house the facility.

"It's our hope that this will be a viable location," spokesperson
Shannon Marshall said.

But work still needs to be done, she said.

First, the advisory committee needs to make a recommendation. Next,
the broader community will be consulted.

Randall confirmed the potential site is in an industrial area.

Ideally, he said, the new location would be downtown, but that's not
realistic given budget cuts at VIHA and high lease rates in the core.