New phone app launches in Timmins to connect business owners with outreach workers

HummingBird is the name of a new mobile application developed in Vancouver to help tackle community challenges such as needle cleanup, loitering, or supporting people in distress.

DIY Community Health Timmins has been testing the HummingBird App for the past month. It provides on-demand help to business owners who may experience stressful situations such as needles on their properties, loitering or encampments. (DIY Community Health Timmins)

Upon conducting extensive research, the developers - Sponge Design – decided to launch it in Timmins, Ont., as a pilot project.

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“Timmins is going through a period of time and where you know community members are getting to a tipping point about this issue,” said Laura Meng, co-founder and the chief executive officer of Sponge Design.

Meng said people may feel unsafe or frustrated by increasing street disorder, but adds, individuals struggle to have their basic needs met and often act out of survival.

Renee Yu is the co-founders of Sponge Design and a developer involved in the Hummingbird App being piloted in Timmins, Ont. (LinkedIn/Sponge Design)

DIY Community Health Timmins said the app is as user-friendly as those used to order a meal or a taxi.

“If you come across a person in crisis, somebody who might need, you know, extra support on a hot day like today, or you come across some needles or some garbage that needs to be cleaned up, you can use the app, connect directly with outreach workers,” said Jason Sereda, president of the board of directors of DIY Community Heath.

“Then we'll provide that timely response to help create that, you know, community safety and well-being for all of us.”

Philip Mauro, a student enrolled in Northern College’s Addictions and Mental Health Worker program has been volunteering with DIY Community Health Timmins and has learned he must meet people where they are at.

“A lot of them are in a difficult place, and it's really not too easy if you're not going to visit them or see them, what they're what they're experiencing,” said Mauro.

DIY Community Health Timmins has been testing the HummingBird App for the past month. It provides on-demand help to business owners who may experience stressful situations such as needles on their properties, loitering or encampments. (Lydia Chubak/CTV News Northern Ontario)

DIY Community Health Timmins has been testing the app since July 1 in collaboration with the Muskegowuk Fire Keeper Patrol as well as business owners and leaders.

Restaurant owner Brianna Humphrey said she’s had to deal with crisis situations for the past 10 years and thinks the HummingBird app works well.

“It really helps alleviate a lot of issues for business owners in the sense that it gives you a bit of education about what to do, how to handle it and you're able to talk to your outreach worker as they're on their way,” said Humphrey.

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Even those involved in promoting the city’s downtown have noticed a difference.

“We say, ‘okay, there's someone who needs assistance in this section can you please help with that person?’” said Cory Robin, executive director of Downtown Timmins BIA.

“There are needles in this section, there's more garbage than there should be here and there and it allows us to tell the app basically to delegate to the app where those services are so this summer, it's been much cleaner, much more inviting and much safer,” added Robin.

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The HummingBird app is free to use and DIY Community Health said it addresses immediate concerns and also helps prevent future conflicts by connecting marginalized individuals with the care they need.