Niagara declares state of emergency for homelessness, mental health, opioid addiction

The Niagara Region has declared a state of emergency for homelessness, mental health and opioid addiction.

READ MORE: Police arrest, charge suspect following drug seizure in Niagara Falls

For the past three years, Wayne Campbell, a Niagara Falls city councillor and regional councillor has wanted Niagara to declare a state of emergency for homelessness, mental health, and opioid addiction. Last week council voted in favour.

Wayne and Helga Campbell have been advocating for their daughter Katey for the past ten years. Back in 2013 she dealt with mental health issues and took her own life but they say her memory is still alive.

“It was just it was exciting. It was really exciting and it’s about time and it’s not the end. It’s just the beginning of something that’s going to move forward,” Wayne said.

READ MORE: Niagara police charge 5 people after seizing $66K worth of drugs

Steven Soos, who has had his own struggles with addiction and mental health says this is the step in the right direction, “…I know what it feels like to be dying in the street and to have people drive by and not even pay attention and I am so glad because this motion it is offering the public hope.”

While the region of Niagara already has services in place, regional chair Jim Bradley says it’s more about the message council wants to get out, “sends a signal to the province that members of our council believe on behalf of the people of Niagara, that there is an emergency and that additional funding from the province in a number of areas will be very helpful to us.”

Campbell says the funding already in place for services isn’t spent wisely, their family experienced that first-hand, “the money is there, it just needs to be organized better so that it’s getting to the people that need it.”

READ MORE: Ontario government to invest $4.75M towards mental health program