Life-saving clinic serves people not welcome elsewhere

Motioning towards the vestibule of the Peace Centre in downtownMoncton,Dr. SusanCrousesaid the originalSalvusClinic would have fit inside.

"It was about half the size," saidCrouse,addressing dozens of supporters, officials and people who use the clinic.

"We saw patients there for two years."

But now, 10years later, the clinic, still atthe Peace Centre, has a waiting room, offices, four examination rooms, a meeting room and its own wheelchair-accessible bathroom. More space thanCrousecould have imaginedwhen she co-foundedthe clinic with an eye toward treating people with no other options.

"I absolutely love it," she said.

"The characters that we meet on a day-to-day basis are amazing, and you never know what the day is going to bring when you leave for work on the morning."

Salvusserves people in the community who are homeless, have mental health or addiction issues, or just livingon the fringes of society. From the beginning,Crousesaid, the focus of the clinicwas on more than medical care.

"It's a warm inviting atmosphere," she said. "We have cookies, coffee we have a clothes bin, where they can find clothing, we have showers through the Peace Centre, we have people to attend to housing needs."

AsCrousefinished her speech, she received a standing ovation. More speakers stepped up to the podium, includingemployees and patients of the clinic.

TammyClementshas been both. She described her first encounter with theSalvusClinic years ago, when she was struggling with drug issues.

"They saw something in me I could never see or believe,"Clementssaid through tears.

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Before long, she was asked to be the clinic's secretary.

She describes thinking, "Really, I don't have a Grade 8 education.'"

While office work didn't turn out to be her strong suit,Clementstold the audience about the support she received, and how throughSalvushelped her find a career as a housing support specialist.

"It's hard to say how grateful I am."

TeddyLeBlanc, apatientwhosat in the front row during the celebration, estimatedhe's been coming toSalvusfor eight years.

"It's got everything I needbasically everything that makes me who I am, better than I was before I got here."

While the mood was one of hope, the crowd took a moment to remember people from theSalvuscommunity who have died.

"When you're homeless, it cuts a lot of time off your life people," Crousesaid.

The loss can be heartbreaking, she said.

"But we're committed to being with them for whatever they choose because it is their life, and they have the ability and the right to make decisions."

The clinic now serves 1,900 patients. It's funded by Horizon Health, the Department of Social Development, and grants and donations.

Crousehopes to increase mental health services at the clinic in the new year.