The program has workers engaging people in the St. Catharines downtown, another way to handle crime
An experimental program designed to improve safety in St. Catharines downtown and support businesses overwhelming supported by the city.
The Welcoming Streets Initiative has been engaging with people, and connecting them to community supports.
Reach Niagara Executive Director Carolyn Dyer says it can work with the recently announced downtown Stabilization plan. "It is prevention, it is preventative in nature, it's creating community safety and well-being, but acknowledging again that our approach is slightly different, potentially, than 911 services."
The Stabilization plan includes having police set up in a downtown storefront.
The Welcoming Streets Initiative connects people in the downtown to services, food, harm reductions, and last year diverted over 200 emergency calls.
Councillor Caleb Ratzlaff says it's worked in Ottawa. "At last council, we talked about trying everything, and seeing what sticks to help with what's happening downtown. This is a program is working, has demonstrated it's working, and in my opinion, I hope the region is listening, we should double down on the stuff that works."
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