Community Outreach Addictions Program
The Community Outreach Addictions Program (COAP) provides outreach services around Supervised Consumption Services to liaise between people affected by homelessness, people accessing ARCHES programs and services, staff and business owners. The team delivers assessment, diversion and/or intervention support services where there are homeless individuals who are not connected to existing health and/or social services. COAP also provides support to businesses and community members who are being impacted by activities related to homelessness and substance use, such as litter, substance use debris, encampments, etc.
Area Covered:
The team works in the area of 1st Avenue South and 4th Avenue South between 13 Street South and Stafford Drive South.
Hours of Operation:
COAP runs Monday through Friday between 06:00 and 22:00 and Saturday and Sunday between 08:00 to 17:00.
COAP Encampment Services
COAP also offers city-wide encampment clean up services. An encampment is a makeshift shelter and/or bedding location that provides a sheltered space for people who are sleeping rough. If you see an encampment anywhere within Lethbridge city limits, you can call our COAP team at (403) 915-3572 to have it safely removed. The COAP team will work with the individuals who are sleeping rough to be connected to Housing First and any additional medical and social services that are required so that individuals are able to transition away from sleeping rough. The COAP team will then remove the encampment. They will also remove any abandoned encampments throughout the city.
Area Covered:
Anywhere within Lethbridge city limits.
Hours of Operation:
COAP runs Monday through Friday between 06:00 and 22:00 and Saturday and Sunday between 08:00 to 21:00.
WHAT IS SLEEPING ROUGH?
Sleeping rough is described as sleeping in the open air such as on the streets, in tents, doorways, parks, bus shelters or encampments. People sleeping in buildings or other places not designed for habitation such as stairwells, sheds, car parks, cars, derelict boats, stations, or makeshift shelters. The definition does not include people in hostels or shelters, people in campsites or other sites used for recreational purposes or organized protest, squatters or travelers.
WHAT IS AN ENCAMPMENT?
An encampment is a makeshift shelter and/or bedding location that provides a sheltered space for people who are sleeping rough.
HOW DO WE HANDLE ENCAMPMENTS?
Encampments that are reported to ARCHES are addressed in the following ways:
Step 1
Citizens see an encampment and report it to COAP Encampment Services by calling 403-915-3572.
Step 2
The COAP Encampment Team goes out and assesses the encampment for people, biohazardous material, litter and other debris.
Step 3
A notice is left at the encampment that notifies individuals that the camp will be dismantled in 72 hours and that COAP will be stopping by to do an assessment of the encampment and work with the individuals in the encampment to access social and health services.
Step 4
COAP will complete a reassessment with the individuals at the encampment to provide support and access to health and social services.
Step 5
Once the individuals at the encampment have been connected to the appropriate services, the encampment is dismantled and the encampment is cleared.
This all is done within 72 hours of the initial report.
HOW TO REPORT AN ENCAMPMENT
An encampment can be reported by calling COAP at 403-915-3572.
