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Health officials in Vancouver are planning a new “sobering centre” seven years after it was recommended by an inquiry into the death of a severely intoxicated homeless man, but some advocates and family members say it still falls short.
Frank Paul , a 47-year -old aboriginal man died of hypothermia after being dumped in an East Vancouver alley by a rookie police officer on the orders of a supervisor at the city’s drunk tank. He was highly intoxicated at the time.
Tiffany Akins with Vancouver Coastal Health says the project is in early preliminary stages but will focus on offering support to those who need it.
“Out strategy is centered arround the client rather than around facilities, so our focus right now is how we will reach to these people and connect them to what they need.”
She says the new facitlity is being designed to fit into ”a continuum of services including sobering and detox.”
The sobering centre will also have a detox facility attached despite the inquiry’s recommendation that it be a stand alone service.
Akins says there is still no timeline for when the facility will be built, or where it will be located.
Agencies/Canadajournal
