New outreach pilot project in Timmins helps people in need

Timmins city council is encouraged with the results so far from a pilot project it launched Aug. 31.

With the help of government funding, the city has contracted the services of the Mushkegowuk Fire Keepers to conduct outreach in the community to help people in need.

During the month of September, the city said the Mushkegowuk Fire Keepers worked five days a week from 4 p.m. to midnight

Over the course of four weeks, the crews made more than 800 connections.

"Twenty referrals to other services, added five people to the by-names list and they did not require emergency services supports," said Dave Landers, chief administrative officer for the City of Timmins.

“So those where direct interventions, where first level of service was successful and didn’t require either police, ambulance calls.”

Thirty-six naloxone kits were also distributed. Although it's not part of their job, Landers said the Mushkegowuk Fire Keepers also collected and disposed intravenous drug needles.

“They did collect 292 needles," said Landers.

The contract with the Fire Keepers expires in August 2024.

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