On the surface, it may seem like just another effort to clean up the community.
But the Working to Improve Neighbourhood Safety program run by Sanguen Health Centre is about so much more.
The peer run program, which launched as a pilot project in Cambridge in 2018, hires and trains individuals with lived or living experience to collect and discard drug waste that has been improperly disposed of in the region.
That's not all though, as part of the work includes educating people on proper disposal while providing a human connection with someone who understands their situation.
"For the community as a whole, it's about having a healthier, safer community," Simone Morrison, manager at Sanguen Health Centre, said.
"I think sometimes we get a bad rap at Sanguen for giving supplies out and not caring about what happens after the fact, which is false. I think for the folks we've hired, what I do like to see is people feeling connected to their community and valued."
In March, 378 needles and 327 glass pipes were collected in Cambridge alone. From January to March, there's been 1,092 needles and 924 pipes safely removed from the community through the program.
That data is then forwarded to Region of Waterloo Public Health for tracking purposes.
"Since the Region of Waterloo funds WINS, Public Health receives monthly data from the program operator, Sanguen Health Centre," Katie McDonald, manager of health systems integration and strategic partnerships at the region, said.
"The data helps us to monitor the community impact of the WINS program and that it's meeting the project objectives of reducing the number of discarded needles in the community, providing meaningful employment opportunities to people with barriers to traditional employment and that it's educating people who use substances about harm reduction and proper disposal options."
Abstaining from drug use is not a requirement to be involved but building trust and helping give people purpose can lead to the use of social services.
"What grows from it is people learn about the other services that exist," Morrison said.
"If they choose, we're so connected with other programs in the community. Whatever people bring up as their goals we can help them with that."
With toxic drug supply being an issue, Sanguen's also cognizant of people's mental health and giving them a safe community to feel heard and supported.
Every so often there will be a story about someone administering naloxone while out on their route and additional support is needed for that person, which the organization provides.
With all the positives that come with the program, stigma still remains, Morrison said. It's a constant obstacle social services in the region strive to overcome.
Spreading the message by word of mouth has been key to WINS success and Morrison wants residents to feel free to say hi when they see someone doing the work. It's part of what helps create community connections and a better place to live, she believes.
"Some of my favourite co-workers are ones with living expertise," she said.
"They get the work on a different level and deepen that for me. They make all of our programs better. What we recognize is these are people of value and worth that are so skilled."
For more information on the Working to Improve Neighbourhood Safety program visit sanguen.com.
