Sexual Assault Centre moves out of downtown over safety concerns

“We see children as young as three years old it was very traumatizing for staff and especially the clients,” continued Halikowski.

But that doesn’t mean she is turning a blind eye to those people in crisis on the downtown streets.

“I am passionate about a solution to the homelessness issue and addiction and mental health. I think there needs to be a multi-prong approach. We need housing, safe injection sites, clean drug supply – I am in no way criticizing that population of folks,” said Halikowski.

With multiple new homeless camps set up in the downtown core in just the last few months, businesses in that area are experiencing an increased amount of crime. Prince George Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer, Todd Corrigall, emphasized the need for safer streets and the actions that need to be taken in order to achieve that.

“It has nothing to do with a lack of compassion but everything to do with the availability of businesses and the access and safety of their teams. It is a wide issue and includes the necessity of safe clean streets but also the necessity of drug addiction and mental health treatments,” said Corrigall.

Aside from ongoing safety concerns, the Centre has also seen a rise in demand for their services, which in turn required them to find a larger space.

“It is called the ‘shadow-pandemic’ when there are natural disasters or community crisis like COVID, there is an increase in violence and in the severity of violence. We have seen, over the last year and a half, with COVID, our numbers increase,” added Halikowski.

Most of the Centre’s services remain online for now but there are plans in the works to fully re-open in the fall for in-person services.

by Taya Fast

Sexual Assault Centre moves out of downtown over safety concerns

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