COWICHAN VALLEY – Island Health has selected Lookout Housing and Health Society to provide harm reduction services in the Cowichan Valley. The contract has been awarded following a Request for Proposal (RFP) issued in April, 2020.
Lookout and Island Health are committed to a safe and inclusive community, and will engage the community to examine service delivery in order to discuss service delivery protocols. This will include engaging with a range of community stakeholders through online consultations, meetings, and responses to concerns and questions.
Starting in June, 2021 health and harm reduction services will be located at the new Wellness and Recovery Centre at 5878 York Road. The centre will bring together primary care, harm reduction, case management, overdose prevention and on-site treatment in a single location. Services will include supervision and education for safer drug consumption, opioid agonist therapy services, crisis intervention and management of harm reduction supplies. Security and sharps pickups will also be provided.
Lookout will assume operation of the Cowichan Valley’s existing overdose prevention services on Jan. 1, 2021. Island Health recognizes the commitment and dedication of the Canadian Mental Health Association – Cowichan Branch which has operated the OPS in the Cowichan Valley since 2017. During this time, countless lives have been saved through education and awareness, interventions in overdoses and linkages with other health care services and supports, including treatment.
Lookout Housing and Health Society is a non-profit organization with almost 50 years of experience offering a range of housing, health and support programs to vulnerable adults living with multiple challenges. Lookout currently provides harm reduction support at The Harbour in Victoria and in communities across the Lower Mainland.