Meet the 'Grey Shirts': Downtown Community Support Team entering first winter
An initiative in Regina's downtown that recently secured city funding to continue operating next year is heading into its first winter.
The Downtown Community Support Program launched in June and is available to provide a range of services to those in need. Council voted unanimously in favour of providing $200,000 to fund the program through 2022 on Thursday.
Alyssa Marinos, the program's supervisor, said it's encouraging to see the city support their "harm-reduction" approach.
"I think it's a good sign the way the trend is going in thinking of these preventative approaches instead of being reactive and responsive," said Marinos. "Instead of trying to fix a problem after it's already happened, we're trying to prevent the problem from occurring."
"It's a good initiative, both for downtown for the businesses, for the public, for the people who live downtown and for the residents who may be experiencing difficulties or issues," said Mayor Sandra Masters following Thursday's meeting.
The funding through next year gives more time to collect data on the program's effectiveness.
"More businesses are open and we do have more people downtown so as that moves through winter and into the summer months how effective is it, and whether we build upon it, maybe replicate it in other areas," Masters said.
The support team is known as the "Grey Shirts" by some of the people they've worked with in the downtown for their grey shirts with the team logo on the back.
"We take that as a term of endearment and a good sign that we're welcome in the community and what we're doing is from the heart," said Marinos, adding she hopes it can help spread the word and build trust.
A major piece of the program is its ability to act as an alternative to calling police in situations like someone dealing with a mental health or addictions-related crisis.
"We don't want to continue criminalizing issues such as homelessness, such as addiction, such as just those basic needs that some folks don't have. That's where we would be that first line of defence, per se," said Marinos. "We have relationships with these folks, so we have that unique ability to meet them where they're at."
There are still times police need to be called, but more often than not Marinos said it comes down to basic needs "nine point five times out of 10".
"It is somebody who just needs somebody to listen, it is somebody who perhaps needs something cold or warm to drink depending, or just access to transportation to get where they need to be," Marinos said.
The team operates out of the Regina Downtown Kiosk in City Square Plaza and can often be found serving food, hot drinks and more to people at no cost. Warm clothes, hygiene products and more are also available.
“We’ve kind of shifted into a different, the same role but a little bit different where we are collecting donations for warm clothing, for things we can give out to the community," Marinos said.
Members of the team have backgrounds in social work and with other community organizations and use those skills to help people with forms like housing applications.
The team also conducts on-foot patrols around downtown, carrying backpacks loaded with all kinds of supplies for everything from needle pickup to snacks to cover a variety of potential needs.
The team is also working with other organizations like the Comeback Society and the Cathedral Community Fridge to offer soup and bannock on Sundays.
"They’re walking around, they’re connecting, they’re consulting and talking and creating that relationship in that community. It’s just so important to see such a ground-level program in Regina," said Alicia Morrow, co-founder of the Comeback Society.
"It takes a lot of trust and courage for these individuals to allow us into their lives, they don’t do it easily and we don’t ever take it for granted," said Marinos.
So far the Grey Shirts have helped four people find housing, one of a handful of early success stories the team hopes will continue into next year and beyond as word spreads and trust grows.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Person on fire outside Trump's hush money trial rushed away on a stretcher
A person who was on fire in a park outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump’s hush money trial is taking place has been rushed away on a stretcher.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Tropical fish stolen from Beachburg, Ont. restaurant found and returned
Ontario Provincial Police have landed a suspect following a fishy theft in Beachburg, Ont.
U.S. FAA launches investigation into unauthorized personnel in cockpit of Colorado Rockies flight to Toronto
The U.S.’s Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a video that appears to show unauthorized personnel in the cockpit of a charted Colorado Rockies flight to Toronto.