SURVEY PROCESS
We put up posters and dropped off flyers in the different neighbourhoods we regularly visit in our catchment area, and also advertised the survey to our social media followers. People who live, work or attend school within our catchment area were asked to complete the survey. Below are the results of the survey and responses to some questions and pieces of feedback.
SURVEY RESULTS
Our survey received a total of 258 responses. We have the breakdowns of relevant questions below, please note that any write in responses will be addressed in the “Addressing Respondents’ Concerns” as there are too many different comments to include them all in this summary. We've also left out or simplified some of the demographic questions as those were more for our tracking purposes.
QUESTION: Which of the following best describes you?
This question was intended to help understand the relationship of respondents to MOPS and the communities we serve. Respondents could choose multiple answers.
192 respondents were community members who live, work, or attend school in our catchment area
113 respondents were family or friends of someone who uses or has used drugs
97 respondents work or volunteer for a community social services agency
78 respondents with lived experience with drug use responded
40 respondents were health care practitioners
28 students in the area responded
26 respondents were parents of children who attend school or childcare in the catchment area
14 were business owners
Other write-in responses included: a first responder, a resident of Red Road Lodge, and someone who lost someone to the toxic drug crisis.
QUESTION: In which age range do you fit?
The survey was open to people ages 16 and up who live, work or go to school in our catchment area. We received responses from people of all ages.
16-24 — 5%
25-34 — 23%
35-44 — 36%
45-54 — 24%
QUESTION: Which neighbourhood do you usually live in?
The largest single group of respondents in this category (32%) indicated they did not live in the area, but did work, go to school, or otherwise spend significant amounts of time in our catchment area. Of the remaining respondents, the top three most popular neighbourhoods indicated were the West End (23%), West Broadway/Spence (10%), and Point Douglas (7%).
QUESTION: To what extent do you think supervised consumption services at MOPS are helpful within the catchment area?
Survey respondents were overwhelmingly supportive of MOPS. Over 80% said MOPS would be “very helpful,” and 10.5% said MOPS would be “helpful.” Six percent said MOPS would be “not very helpful” and only 2.7% said MOPS would “not be helpful at all.” Respondents answering “undecided” comprised 4.3% of the total.
QUESTION: In what ways would MOPS’ services be helpful going forward?
We provided some options for people to select from, and gave a write-in option as well to collect additional suggestions. Many people suggested services that we either already provide (such as drug checking), or services we are not in a position to provide at this time (a 24/7 bricks-and-mortar site staffed with medical professionals and security). There were also some negative suggestions and comments, which will be addressed in the next section.
Of the options we provided, 231 believed we could help decrease risk of injury and death from overdose, 222 said we could help reduce transmission of illnesses like Hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS, 208 look forward to fewer used needles on the streets and in parks, 205 anticipated we could decrease the demand on emergency services and hospitals, 199 said we could help make the community safer, and 196 hope we can continue to decrease drug use in public areas like streets and parks. 11 people said they didn't think supervised consumption services are or would be helpful to their community, and 3 people weren't sure.
QUESTION: What questions or concerns do you have about supervised consumption services?
We gave a number of suggestions of questions we anticipated being asked, and provided folks a way to write in their own questions as well.
Of the options we provided, 167 people said they had no questions or concerns. 52 wondered if SCS lead to more people loitering on the streets near the site, 51 were concerned about whether SCS lead to more people using drugs, 34 asked if SCS affect children in the community, 33 asked if they had an impact on local businesses, another 33 were curious about the impact on community cleanliness and quality of life, 29 asked if there was an effect on property values, 28 asked if it impacted the reputation or image of the community, 23 were concerned as to whether SCS lead to more crime, 15 asked if SCS lead to more used needles on the street, and 13 were unsure.
We do not have the resources and research to answer all of these questions, as metrics like property value and crime rate are affected by a wide variety of factors with MOPS' presence being only one. These questions are addressed with more detail below.
QUESTION: Which of the following might help address questions or concerns?
We asked survey respondents how we might best address their questions, and provided some options that we anticipated folks might be interested in. Of the respondents, 195 supported us providing information to the community about the goals and benefits of supervised consumption services and how they can help the community, 189 said that we should evaluate the services to see what's working and what's not, share the results with the community, and take action on the results (link to the evaluation), 164 said we should have a process to get ongoing feedback from the community about supervised consumption services, 148 suggested a website with information and contact information (www.sunshinehousewpg.org). Seven respondents had no suggestions, and 20 people wrote in answers which will be addressed in the following section.
ADDRESSING RESPONDENTS’ CONCERNS
To address questions as well as negative and positive feedback, we have combined questions and concerns into groups based on topics. Within our response, we aim to address each piece of feedback we received, while not listing out every single submission (there were a lot!). If you have further questions, want us to follow up, or have more comments or suggestions for us please reach out via the contact form on our website [link].
ENABLING
“Stop enabling drug use and providing clean drug use supplies. The problem has been getting worse, not better, over the last 20 - 30 years. People get free needles and go share with others.”
First, MOPS has only been open for 2.5 years. While we appreciate the inordinate amount of power some people seem to think we possess, this is not the case, and we feel it's unfair to blame our service or our ideals for the effect that decades of colonialism and increasing income inequality on on community members.
Abstinence-only education is ineffective at best, and when used in lieu of harm reduction education, can be harmful. By providing clean needles, pipes, and other supplies we help encourage people to use more safely. When people don't have the equipment they need. they share, which is proven to increase the rate that illnesses like Hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS are spread. Therefore, MOPS enables people to make safer choices while using substances, which we think is a worthwhile cause. We also provide referrals to programs within Sunshine House where we can, and help individuals get connected with outside resources when they aren't a fit for Sunshine House programming. We help support people on their journeys, whether that's getting housed, achieving sobriety, or getting help with wound care.
The reality is that people will always use substances, and people should be allowed to make their own choices in regard to their own bodies. It's becoming more and more difficult to stay housed year over year, with an affordable housing stock that has been disappearing over the decades. If someone doesn't have a place to live, they have to do everything that many of us get to do in the privacy of our homes in public. It is unfortunate that so many folks seem to be concerned more with optics and the morality of drug use than compassion and empathy, but we stand by the work we do, the methods we use, and the people we work with and who come to us for help.
PERMANENT SUPERVISED CONSUMPTION SITE
“I would suggest that the testing of the drugs for safety continue but that the supervised consumption move elsewhere perhaps to an inside facility where not everyone has to witness the results of the drug use. Plus our property wouldn't get damaged, we wouldn't be lit on fire anymore and spend time after the RV leaves taking care of the OD's which occur.”
We completely agree that supervised consumption would best be done inside a building. This would make it much easier to do our jobs, and would be a much nicer environment for the folks who come to MOPS to use drugs. Our main stop at Main and Logan was chosen by a committee of peers (folks with lived experience who are paid by Sunshine House to share their immense knowledge with us) as were all of our stops, because they identified that area as the place with the highest need.
When there are no supervised consumption spaces, public drug use increases in places like alleyways, doorways, and parks. If you are concerned about your neighbours who use drugs, then vocally supporting a brick and mortar supervised consumption site is a great step toward ensuring they get the care they need. A private, temperature controlled, quieter space would be hugely beneficial to people who use drugs, and is more feasible and compassionate than expecting them to just disappear. The problem is not people using drugs, the problem is with the treatment they receive and the lack of resources available to them.
If the participants we see daily were supported by a brick and mortar facility, that would enable MOPS to be a truly mobile site during the day as well as in the evening, which has been our hope since the beginning of our program. However, until we feel confident that we wouldn't be abandoning the community members who visit us and leaving them with no resources, we cannot in good conscience abandon our daytime stop.
TREATMENT
“Are there enough long-term residential treatment spaces available for the clients who might need them? Maybe we should build more detox, treatment, and recovery facilities for people who would like to work towards sobriety.”
We agree! In 2023, the Auditor General of Manitoba published an audit of treatment facilities and the ability for folks to access the services and help they were seeking. They found that 1,129 tried to access RAAM clinics between June 2021 and June 2022 but weren't able to receive service. They also investigated wait times for men’s and women's in-house treatment and found that on average there was a 53-day wait for men's facilities and a 139-day wait for women's. So in short, no. There are not enough services available to the people who want them.
However, the Province of Manitoba recently announced that they are pledging $2.9 million to support recovery, treatment, and detox spaces in Winnipeg. Hopefully as treatment becomes more available, people will be able to access it more quickly. In the meantime, MOPS will still be there to keep those folks safer while they await treatment, and to provide services for those who aren't interested in treatment.
PEERS
“Consider using motivators to help people help themselves. Maybe rewards for good behaviors. More free stuff for those that volunteer help or serve clients. Give them some goals meaning and purpose without judgement for those that simply don’t have the will to help or do anything.”
Sunshine House believes strongly in the value of lived experience. We have a peer program where folks who have lived experience with using the different services we provide can help advise our programming, become employed, and receive support from our Peer Support Coordinator.
Peers have been involved every step of the way with MOPS, from its conception, to picking the stops, to picking the art and branding of our vehicles and materials. They are the heart and backbone of our programming, and we love to work with them.
Sunshine House believes in, and practices, a come-as-you-are policy. This means that our participants are welcome in our spaces no matter what state they're in, the level of help they may need, or their mood. We encourage and expect respect for our spaces and the people in them from anyone who enters our site, and everyone receives the same level of service no matter who they are or what their level of motivation or ability is.
CRIME
“Why don't you include the mobile SCS impact on local crime rates in your last assessment of the program?”
Sunshine House did not conduct the assessment ourselves. It was an independent review conducted by LAHRK Consulting, and they did so in the way they saw fit. The purpose of their review was to evaluate service delivery and whether we were serving the community effectively. We are proud that they thought so highly of us and our work, and are grateful to have met and worked with them.
Studying crime data is difficult, especially since we have only been operating since October of 2022. Local crime stats are publicly available on the WPS website so anyone can take a look at crime trends. In South Point Douglas, violent and non-violent crime rates are currently down compared to the last twelve months. However, correlation does not equal causation, and a full study would be needed to determine the impact of MOPS on local crime rates similar to what's been done in BC and Toronto.
“Why is there not more urgent information about how this affects our children, first and foremost?”
We are very conscientious of our effect on the neighbourhoods we operate in. We are always open to talk with any concerned parents or workers at childcare facilities close to our stops. We have met, and are going to meet, with school officials in the community to demystify MOPS and build relationships with the folks in proximity to our services. MOPS is a service that is aimed at adults, but sometimes children or teens need help, too. Fortunately, there are a number of community organizations that youth can be directed to, so they can get assistance from folks who are specially equipped to handle their concerns.
“Some people are scared to have something like this in their neighbourhood because they're worried about increased crime rates. They worry their neighbourhood will become unsafe, especially for the elderly.”
We understand that fear is a very real motivator and also a tool handily weaponized to persuade folks to think certain ways or believe certain things. However, studies show that SCS actually reduce both non violent and violent crime rates. The folks who use MOPS are people, just like you and your family, and just like all of us who work at Sunshine House. The best cure for fear is understanding. Anybody is welcome to come by the MOPS site and talk to our staff, have a coffee, juice or water with us, and hopefully better understand our site, services, and the people who come to use our services.
“How many people with criminal records are employed at or associated with MOPS? Why is nothing being done about arresting and incarcerating drug dealers and gang members?”
Asking about our staff and participants' criminal records is invasive and irrelevant. People who have committed crimes in the past still need jobs, shelter, and safety, just like any other person.
We cannot answer questions pertaining to policing, as we are not affiliated with WPS.
“I don’t feel trusting of the Government processes to date, everything has been very sneaky to date. It’s like they do not care about the community of people who are raising children and living in this neighbourhood. The battles we see already have increased with theft and property damage. Our children don’t feel safe anymore but we feel trapped as who wants to buy in our neighbourhood now. Very disheartening.”
The government process for applying for an exemption under Section 56.1 is publicly available on the Government of Canada website. You can go there at any time to look at the steps involved for applying to run a Supervised Consumption Site, and even find out more information about the application process. Government transparency is not something we have control over, but they have contact options if you'd like to ask them questions.
ADDITIONAL SERVICES
“Provide more services for people on site to access help. Counselling, support groups, education on things like housing, banking, parenting etc. even getting psychology students to offer counselling on site. You should have a food truck handing out hot meals while you're open.”
These are all really great ideas, and many are things we wish we could do. Unfortunately, they aren’t services feasible for MOPS staff to provide, or services feasible to provide outdoors in a parking lot. Thankfully, for some services we have partnerships with other organizations who come in to help us and our participants!
The Aboriginal Health and Wellness mobile clinic stops by once a week on alternating Thursdays and Saturdays to provide health care and health advice, and to help people connect to further medical help. Ka Ni Kanichihk's Aunties also stop by every two weeks to give out snacks, smudge and provide cultural support, and to talk with anyone who wants a shoulder to lean on or advice.
We also have other programs at Sunshine House to help folks with things like accessing housing, sexual healthcare, and detox and treatment services, so when folks at MOPS ask for help and fit the program requirements (for example, we primarily help 2SLGBTQ+ folks with housing and detox) we can refer them directly to the help they need. Sunshine House staff members from those programs come to the MOPS site weekly to connect with participants, educate them on what we provide, and intake folks who are interested into our programs. When participants need help we can't provide, we also help them find information and get in contact with other organizations and services.
We would love it if a food truck could hand out meals while we're operating — food and snacks are by far the most requested service we are unable to provide. Sometimes when businesses or other organizations find themselves with a surplus of food they'll come by the site and hand it out to the community, for which we are always immensely grateful.
If you are from a community organization or business and would like to connect with MOPS to develop programming or a partnership, please reach out to Mel at mel@sunshinehousewpg.org!
BUSINESS
“Very negative effect on retail business, poor image when trying to house and support ‘youth at-risk’ and individual who have stopped using and want to avoid triggers. Should NOT be on high vehicle traffic streets, poor image for tourism and visitors. Harm reduction should also address ‘harm’ to the business community. Hugh need for public washroom !!!”
“MOPS has a negative effect on retail businesses and provides a poor image when trying to house and support youth-at-risk and individuals who have stopped using and want to avoid triggers. MOPS should not be on high traffic streets, it gives a poor impression to visitors and tourists. Harm reductions should address the harm to the business community, and there's a huge need for public washrooms.”
MOPS is located at 631 Main St because Main Street Project, the organization that owns the lot, offered it to us when our peers advised us that the Main and Logan area had a high need for services for drug users. For all of our stops, we ask our peers what areas of the city need us, and when they identify key areas, we reach out to businesses and organizations in that area to ask where we can park.
We are grateful to do the work we do in the areas that we do it, and understand that our neighbours may be concerned about optics. However, saving lives and assisting people who use drugs to access resources and use more safely are our mandate, and leaving the area we are in with no support would make their lives much more dangerous.
If you would like drug use to happen in doors and out of sight, we recommend voicing your support for a bricks-and-mortar Supervised Consumption Site, and expansions to social housing so that the folks who use MOPS can enjoy the same level of privacy when using substances that housed Winnipeggers do. There is one public washroom not too far from MOPS at 715 Main Street, but if you'd like to see more in the area, we encourage you to voice your support to your city councillor.
DONATIONS
“How can I support MOPS financially?”
You can visit the Sunshine House website for information on how to give money to support the operation of MOPS. We also accept donations of food, clothing, electronics and hygiene supplies. You can even donate a car and have the proceeds go to us! Check out our social media to see our monthly donation calls for what items we are most in need of. Thank you for your appreciation — we appreciate you too!
KIND WORDS
We would like to thank everyone for the kind words, encouragement, and support left in the comments of this survey. The above responses may make it seem like there's overwhelming opposition to MOPS, but in reality there are so many more people who support us than not. We are grateful to be part of such a caring community, and hope that with more education and outreach more people will have empathy and compassion for people who use drugs, and understand the services we provide and why we work the way we do.
If you would like to stay up to date with MOPS and Sunshine House, there are many ways to do so:
Sign up for the Sunshine House newsletter
Sign up at SaferSites.ca
If you have anything else you would like to bring to our attention, please do so by emailing hellomops@sunshinehousewpg.org
