The POUNDS Project is temporarily closing its overdose prevention site and drop-in centre on Third Avenue in downtown Prince George.
In a statement posted to its Facebook page, POUNDS said it needs to take a moment to address significant developments within the organization.
“With heavy hearts, we have made the difficult decision to temporarily close our overdose prevention site and drop-in center. We understand the impact this closure will have on the individuals who rely on our services, but we firmly believe that this step is crucial for the future of The POUNDS Project.”
POUNDS explains it was created to fill gaps that exist within the community, but its original start-up grant in 2018 didn’t allow for applicants to use funds to develop organizational infrastructure.
“So, we relied on personal devotion and sacrifices from our dedicated employees in order to provide the standard of care we knew our clients deserved. We recognize now that this is not a sustainable approach, and it hinders our ability to address the systemic issues that underpin the challenges we face.”
POUNDS said reducing services to alleviate the strain on personal resources feels irresponsible when the need for support is so apparent, but without an increase to budget, the organization is facing challenges diverting resources to establish a solid organizational foundation.
“At present, our budget only covers one management/leadership position, a minimal amount of time for bookkeeping and general administration, and fails to provide adequate wages and benefits for our staff who make this work possible. We strongly believe in fostering the health, resiliency, and retention of our team members, but doing so within our current budget would require a significant reduction in service hours and the number of clients we can support. This compromise is simply unacceptable for our community.”
POUNDS said it finds itself unable to address the immediate needs of its clients and the systemic needs of the organization simultaneously.
“A temporary closure will enable us to establish some basic organizational infrastructure that can support both our clients and our community for years to come.”
