Positive Living Niagara

I live near this place and it’s incredibly sad that my children had to be exposed to the growing number of people openly using outside this place, my kids having to watch the ground around this place while walking to and from school, so they don’t accidentally step on a needle. (Connaught Public ELEMENTARY school). We had to switch pharmacies because I’ve been cussed out for not supplying a cigarette to one of them on more than one occasion. I’ve been threatened while walking by to catch a bus to go visit and care for my elderly mother, all because I had my cell phone out to listen to music and one of them wanted to use my cell phone. I’ve seen people high out of their minds, pants around their ankles. The whole area is just zombified people wandering and congregating, stumbling in front of traffic. I’d love to see this place close so that we can actually have nice things in our yards and on our porch. It’d be nice to be able to open my windows on a beautiful summer day without having to listen to them yelling at each other regarding drugs.

I came to drop off some scarves for their red scarf event for next year, and the staff were absolutely lovely. They got me more yarn, so I'll be back with more scarves for sure!

They say positive living but they are rude. There is a bike rack outside their office with no sign saying for their office use only. I locked my bike and they lady came out all rude and told me that I had to use the one by rexall. Firstly put up a sign secondly be polite and care tell me sorry you can use it this time but don't use it in future or be polite when you tell me to use the other one. Part of healing from addiction requires people to be supportive and how can you be supportive when you are rude.

I think providing those struggling with addiction with clean supplies is limiting the risk for the community however the risk of infection/ contamination to the rest of the community by needles being left all over the city should be looked at instead of prioritizing the user's. If you're going to supply sharps, then you should be having staff to pick them up because they are being left all over the city. Kids, animals and other people could easily get poked and infected from users choices of poor disposal. City workers should not have to pick up sharps all because you want to limit transmission of diseases between drug users.

Positive Living is a wonderful organization. They are there helping those with HIV and addiction and do an excellent job at both. Staff are dedicated and strong in their passion to assist.