INTERIOR HEALTH TRIES TO DISPEL MYTHS

There's the story of John.

He's a schizophrenic with alcohol dependency who is trying to get off
the street and on his feet.

"He needs a place to live where he won't be kicked out just because he
slipped," psychiatrist Don Duncan told city council Monday. John is
one of the reasons why the 30-unit supportive housing complex slated
for St. Paul Street is necessary, Duncan explained.

The housing complex for homeless people with mental illnesses or
addictions was on city council's agenda Monday.

Following public responses, most of which were opposed to the project,
Interior Health Authority and B.C. Housing representatives had their
chance to defend and dispel.

Faced with public concerns the housing complex would house drug users
and be a magnet for criminals and drug pushers, Duncan, director of
mental health services for the IHA, said that will not be the case.

"We will not be handing out drugs or alcohol. We will not be
encouraging the use," Duncan said.

"Anyone caught dealing would be thrown out."

The main problem is with the term "harm reduction" used to describe
the operating model of the complex, he said.

Duncan said it doesn't mean the residents will be using drugs freely.
It just means if they slip up sometimes, they will be allowed to stay
and continue getting treatment.

"Harm reduction is a general term," he said. "It describes any
approach other than abstinence based. Anything non abstinence is harm
reduction."

Duncan noted Kelowna's project could be considered "very conservative"
as far as similar projects go.

When questioned by council why the complex couldn't be based on the
abstention model, Duncan said Kelowna already has those kinds of
facilities and the need is for the harm-reduction one.

It fills a gap, he explained.

The province had agreed to fund the $4.5 million construction of the
apartments and the IHA will hold the operation budget.

The city was to provide the land and B.C. Housing would pick a housing
provider, which is expected to be announced once the site is chosen.
The opening date is set for September, 2007.

Ira Roness, with IHA alcohol and drug services, stressed that the
tenants are there to get well, not continue abusing. They will be
screened before they get in, not come directly from the streets, and
will be under constant supervision.

He also said there will be a community advisory committee set up to
address any concerns neighbours of the project might have.

As far as the St. Paul site that was chosen by council and then was
the first pick by the site task force, James Munro of B.C. Housing
said it wouldn't matter if a different location was chosen.

"We can work with any site," he said.

Coun. Andre Blanleil pointed out other sites might be found with time
and questioned why B.C. Housing was moving so fast.

"People need housing," replied Munro.

Blanleil also questioned the experimental nature of the
project.

Because there are no similar models in the area, the city was being a
guinea pig for the unknown entity.

Roness admitted this is new to Kelowna, but said there are other
models in Europe and the United States.

Said Duncan, "This is so mainstream. It's as far away from
experimental as you can get."