Political turf war over outreach centre comes at expense of vulnerable Islanders, says advocate [Video]

An advocate who works to get vulnerable people housed says the Community Outreach Centre’s location on Park Street in Charlottetown is making a difference, but recent political debates over whether it should stay there are creating uncertainty for those who rely on its services.

Chris Clay, the co-ordinator of the Native Council of P.E.I.’s Reaching Home project, said he’s seen first-hand how the centre provides critical support to Islanders who are often overlooked or stigmatized.

“I’ve seen a huge improvement in the services at the outreach center. The clinic that they’re running now is fantastic,” he told CBC’s Island Morning.

“It helps address a lot of needs to the population that don’t often get to see doctors. The services that the case managers are doing down there are phenomenal, and they’re providing such good help to the people who need it.”

Political dispute over location

Park Street is the outreach centre’s fifth location since it first …