(HIV Community Link)

By Justin Goulet

UPDATED: HIV Community Link confirms application for ‘resource centre’ in Lethbridge

Feb 10, 2021 | 11:55 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – (02/18/21 UPDATE): HIV Community Link has announced that the space on 13^th Street North, where the organization had planned to set up a resource centre, is “no longer a viable option”. However, HIV Community Link will continue to look for another location.

The group said in a statement that, “at this time, HIV Community Link and the landlord will be parting ways professionally and amicably.”

“We want to publicly thank those who support our work and the vulnerable residents we serve. Our team is committed to working with the community to form a collaborative response to rising rates of hepatitis C, HIV, and STBBI in Alberta, and we will continue to look for a suitable location.”

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Last week, it was reported that a Calgary-based organization had applied for a development permit for a ‘harm reduction site’ in Lethbridge.

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However, HIV Community Link has clarified to Lethbridge News Now what their proposed facility would actually be.

Director of Community Relations and Acting Executive Director, Ana Glavan, said HIV Community Link has applied to the City of Lethbridge, however, it is for what they’re calling a ‘resource centre’.

Glavan also confirmed that their application is not for a ‘supervised consumption centre’.

“We do not intend to have any kind of applications for supervised consumption services in Lethbridge,” she told LNN.

“We know how the Lethbridge community sees harm reduction and maybe there’s some confusion with the term but again, we do not intend to have a supervised consumption service application in Lethbridge.”

She said the organization is available to “cover a gap in services” for individuals living with HIV or at risk of HIV, Hepatitis C, as well as other sexually transmitted and blood-born infections.

“We offer education, prevention programming, case management, social supports and hopefully with the space there [in Lethbridge], we will be able to actually do education and other support services for those living with HIV or at-risk of.”

Glavan confirmed that the space in question is 422 13 Street N., which is a building currently occupied by Saamis Aboriginal Employment.

The building at 422 13 Street N. is currently occupied by Saamis Aboriginal Education (Google Street View)

On Friday, Feb. 5, Saamis responded to reports that their location could be sold for an alleged ‘harm reduction site’.

READ MORE: Saamis Employment “shocked” to learn their location might be sold for harm reduction site

Glavan added that HIV Community Link has been offering outreach services in Lethbridge since late October 2020.

“We have a few employees in Lethbridge that do outreach. We are not affiliated with any other organizations, we are our own organization with 37 years of history,” she told LNN.

As for if HIV Community Link would share the building space with Saamis Aboriginal Education, Glavan could not confirm if that would be the case, or if they would be fully taken over the facility space.