Council approves interim supervised consumption site location in Kitchener

An interim supervised consumption site will go at 150 Duke St. W.in Kitchener, afterregional council approved the location at Wednesday night's council meeting.

150 Duke St. W. is also the plannedpermanent location for a planned supervised consumption to open later this year.

Staff recommended the site go at the Duke Street location tominimize disruption to clients who will use the site as well as the community. It will also mean the region doesn't have to spend money on a trailer rental orlease a second property.

Staff say it will cost approximately $530,000 for the interim site.

Putting the interim site in the same location as the permanent site will mean a delay of about two to three monthsin getting the permanent site set up, the region's director of infectious disease, dental and sexual health Karen Quigley-Hobbs told councillors.

The region has applied to the province for funding for the permanent site and is in the process of completing the application to the federal government for a permanent site.

Staff will now apply to the federal government to be allowed to have the interim site, and Quigley-Hobbs said it's about a 14-day turnaround to receive that approval.

A staff report to council says the interim site would be operational within two months of receiving approvals. That site would run for approximately six months, which is whenthe permanent site is expected to be ready.