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Provided washroom services, life skills advice and some nursing care for many of Vancouver's most needy residents.
Vancouver (4 May 2010) - The Vancouver Coastal Health Authority (VCHA) is closing a drop-in centre that has been used by residents of the Downtown Eastside for many years.
"The closure of the Health Contact Centre is a direct hit on the people who desperately need these services," says Brenda Brown, chair of the health services component of the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU/NUPGE).
"The closure of this facility alone means over 100 people a day will be scattered about, looking for some stability in their lives. Make no mistake, this closure is dramatic and will hurt the very people who need these services. I am very concerned about what will happen with the many clients these services have dealt with," Brown says.
The centre has been operating since early 2000. It provides drop-in services for people who need washrooms, life skills advice and some nursing care. Eleven regular staff and 20 casual staff are losing their jobs. The BCGEU will meet with members impacted by the cuts to assist with employment alternatives.
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