Why This Matters:
Communities across the country are integrating smart growth, environmental justice, and equitable development approaches to design and build healthy, sustainable, and inclusive neighbourhoods. However, ensuring a safe community for all requires intentional policy and community engagement especially with those who are most disenfranchised.
A safe and equitable community is one where harms to residents are prevented whenever possible including self-harm. A safe community looks to reduce and heal harms that cannot be prevented as effectively as possible.
Safety and well-being are interlinked at a systems level as is safety with community connection. The more a community is connected and is accessible to all residents, the safer and healthier it is.
A safe and equitable community is one where harms to residents are prevented whenever possible including self-harm. A safe community looks to reduce and heal harms that cannot be prevented as effectively as possible.
Safety and well-being are interlinked at a systems level as is safety with community connection. The more a community is connected and is accessible to all residents, the safer and healthier it is.
Did You Know…?
- According to the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU), in the 19 months of available data since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic (March, 2020 to September, 2021) there have been 245 opioid-related deaths in Simcoe Muskoka.
- That is nearly 70 percent higher than the 145 opioid-related deaths in the 19 months prior to the start of the pandemic (August, 2018 to February, 2020).
What You Can Do As A Municipal Leader:
- Form a Drug and Harm Reduction Strategy/Committee
- Enable low-income households to participate in our increasingly digital world by providing free WiFi in municipal facilities, expanding access to a host of social services, employment and education opportunities
- Consult with residents, especially those who are disenfranchised to find out what they need to address underlying systemic issues of poverty, racism, stigma and discrimination.
- Work with disenfranchised individuals and community partners to address systemic issues of poverty, racism, stigma and discremination and increase investment in initiatives to address these issues, including anti-hate and anti-racism initiatives
- Set timelines and budgets to progressively work toward 24/7/365 public washroom and drinking water access.
- Develop rights-based homelessness encampment strategies that do not use municipal bylaws to criminalize poverty and homelessness.
Local Organizations That Can Help:
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