PHR requests $1.3M for safe consumption site; organization hits fundraising goal

Prairie Harm Reduction (PHR), the site of Saskatchewan’s only functional safe injection site, is looking for its slice of the pie in the upcoming budget.

According to executive director Jason Mercredi, the ask for 2021 sits at $1.3 million. That’s the same dollar figure as the 2020 request, which was rejected by the province.

“It’s for the same thing, a 24-hour facility. But we also put in a couple of other requests at lower price points for different hours. Our big goal is to hit the middle and open until midnight. I think a 24-hour facility would be best, and a 24-hour medical facility at $1.3 million, it’s about as cheap as it gets,” Mercredi said Monday.

“At this point, we’ll take anything because we need to be able to offer extended hours and enhanced service quality.”

Mercredi said he is “fairly hopeful” at least one of the requests will get the thumbs up, based on meetings the two sides have had recently and the ongoing overdose crisis.

“(It’s starting) to spiral out of control. The needs have grown exponentially, so we have to make sure we’re ready to go,” he added.

Since Jan. 2020, 420 people in Saskatchewan have died either due to a confirmed or suspected drug overdose. Of those deaths, 75 have come in 2021, with the province’s current pace sitting around 450 on the year.

If that pace continues, Saskatchewan would again break a record for most overdose deaths in a year. The mark of 233 was set in 2020.

Mercredi said the facility would be able to be up and fully functional as soon as funding is granted and a hiring blitz for paramedics and support workers can be done.

The community-based organization also received some good news Monday. Its fundraiser alongside the Okihtcitawak Patrol Group has hit its goal.

As of Monday afternoon, $81,521 had been raised, hitting the $80,000 plateau just three weeks to the day it was announced.

“The majority of it is to fund Okihtcitawak Patrol Group next year, so it covers their staffing costs so they can continue to do patrols in Pleasant Hill and Riversdale. The rest of the money will go to our drop-in centre,” Mercredi said.

“It’s kind of nuts. We raised 81,000 (in) three weeks. We thought it would take two months to get there. (We) give kudos to all the businesses that donated to us, kudos to all the people that donated to us and of course, the Kinsmen. We couldn’t have done it without them.”

In terms of what is needed at the drop-in centre, Mercredi said items such as coffee, food, hand sanitizer and masks for clients come to mind.

“It’s not cheap when you’re the drop-in centre for the entire neighbourhood,” he added.

The fundraising portal will continue to be live on PHR’s website until Friday, but the organization is always accepting donations. Mercredi said he hopes this funding — which includes a $40,000 donation by the Kinsmen Club of Saskatoon — makes some change.

“We’re really trying to show that we can do things differently,” he said.

A new edition of PHR’s clothing line is also coming in April. The safe consumption site was able to open its doors on the backs of fundraisers such as the clothing line in October. Alongside community donations, the fundraisers have allowed Mercredi and PHR to open at a reduced rate, Monday to Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Mercredi said even if the site receives provincial funding on April 6, it will still continue with its latest clothing line. Instead of that money going to fund the actual site, Mercredi teased it would be used to create “new and exciting” projects.