Peter Shokeir | [email protected]
The need for crisis intervention supports is growing for Jasper, according to a report presented during council’s committee of the whole meeting on May 23.
In March 2022, Jasper Victim Services ceased operations, leaving a gap in supports for victims of crime and victims of non-criminal trauma.
The Municipality of Jasper’s Community Outreach Services had offered daytime crisis response services, while Jasper Victim Services had provided after-hours services.
“Since the closure of the Jasper Victim Services Unit, Hinton Victim Services has hired a co-ordinator to assist victims of crime in Jasper, but individuals and families dealing with non-criminal trauma are not supported by them,” said Christopher Read, community development director, during his presentation to the committee.
Some functions of the previous Crisis Team were moved over to the Jasper Community Team Society, which includes recent municipal funding to set up and operate an after-hours crisis response service.
The current Crisis Team offers support to victims of non-criminal trauma by providing financial support such as gas cards, hotel room charges or grocery cards, but they do not offer direct one-on-one support as was available in the past.
Community Outreach Services, meanwhile, has seen a “significant increase” in the demand for crisis response services since the pandemic began, according to administration’s report.
In 2022, Community Outreach Services provided 2,273 crisis response service hours when they had only been funded to provide 1,754 hours, but additional grant funding was secured to cover the shortfall.
“And based on the analysis last year, and the activity level seen in the first quarter of 2023, we expect the need for Crisis Response to remain at 2022 or even increase,” Reed said.
Administration noted a rise in stress related to financial instability, a sustained increase of usage at the local food bank and more requests for shelter at the Yellowhead Emergency Shelter related to mental health and addictions issues.
Since the start of the pandemic, Jasper has also lost its local in-person Alberta Supports office, and there has also been a steady increase in addiction/mental health clients accessing supports from Community Outreach Services.
Outreach Workers also estimate that they are supporting around double the number of families impacted by domestic violence compared to before the pandemic.
Coun. Ralph Melnyk asked if there were other sources of funding that could be accessed.
Reed replied that no specific sources were available, meaning this request would have to go to 2024 budget discussions.
“We are saying for 2024 and beyond, to meet this need in our community, there will need to be a municipal contribution toward it,” he later added.
Melnyk moved that committee direct administration to bring a breakdown of the projected municipal resources required to meet crisis intervention needs to the 2024 budget discussions.
He added that this wouldn’t commit the municipality to taking over crisis management entirely.
“We still hopefully have the support of the provincial government, but it is in anticipation of what we might potentially have to have in the budget to be able to provide the services, given the volume that we're seeing through this year.”
Coun. Kathleen Waxer said they should also advocate to the Government of Alberta to recognize the increased need for crisis intervention services in the province since a pandemic and to ensure that more resources are directed towards these services.
The committee recommended council authorize an advocacy letter to the appropriate provincial officials.
