Councillors agree: the drug– and homelessness crisis in Thorold is an emergency.
During last night’s city council meeting, Thorold unanimously passed coun. Carmen DeRose’s motion to declare a State of Emergency in the city.
“It’s a starting point,” councillors echoed off each other, as the motion passed.
Seconded by coun. Victoria Wilson, the motion to declare a state of emergency passed unanimously, marking a starting point for the city to begin reawakening the initiative quashed late last year to declare a state of emergency in the entire region.
Carmen DeRose told ThoroldToday yesterday that the move might make it easier for the city to push for more provincial and federal funding for various intervention- homelessness and addictions programs to help with the soaring numbers of residents dying from drugs, mental health and homelessness.
“Pathstone is underfunded, and the wait list is long. Anything we can do to get them provincial and federal dollars would help,” coun. DeRose said.
“We did it! We prevailed!” exclaimed an elated Steven Soos, community activist and one of the key voices that has been pushing for a state of emergency to be declared in the city.
“I have waited to long for this day to come, and I have never been more happy in my life. People will get the help they need and deserve because of this motion. There is a state of emergency in Thorold, and I hope it creates a ripple effect,” he said in an emotional Facebook live shortly after the motion was passed.
Niagara Region reported over 1,000 suspected opioid overdoses in the region last year, up close to 400 from the year before. So far this year, 210 suspected opioid overdoses.
