The Downtown Safety Leadership Table report includes 28 recommendations to help improve safety and perceptions in Calgary's downtown core.A panel tasked by Calgary’s mayor to find solutions to safety concerns in the city’s downtown core has released its final report with a list of 28 recommendations aimed at improving the situation.
The short-term recommendations include improved cleaning and maintenance in public spaces throughout the core, updated city policies for managing homeless encampments and improved availability of public washrooms.The report also suggests establishing year-round daytime resource centres that provide support and access to services for individuals experiencing homelessness, similar to the coordinated cold weather response in the winter.
“We know that between the housing crisis, the affordability issues and an opioid epidemic like we have never seen, providers and organizations working with the most vulnerable and at-risk populations, we need to move quicker to catch up,” said Heather Morley, the table’s co-chair and CEO of Inn from the Cold.
“I think that group of experts could’ve written that report seven months ago,” Brian Thiessen with Calgary Act Now told Global News. “It’s a good report, lots of things to act on. My reaction is similar to a lot of Calgarians, where’s the sense of urgency?”