A new initiative in Centretown has seen success in diverting mental health and substance abuse crisis calls away from the police. The Alternative Neighbourhood Crisis Response (ANCHOR) program, which launched in August 2024, managed over 4,000 calls within its first year, as per recent data provided by the city.
Inspired by the unfortunate events surrounding Abdirahaman Abdi’s death in 2016, the ANCHOR program offers Centretown residents the option to contact a dispatcher at 211 for mental health-related concerns instead of involving law enforcement. The dispatchers then connect the calls to crisis workers who operate in pairs.
Robert Dekker, the president of the Centretown Community Association, emphasized the community’s apprehension around police interactions, making programs like ANCHOR crucial. The initiative, initially concentrated in the Centretown area, successfully managed 92% of calls without police intervention.
The average call duration with an ANCHOR dispatcher was approximately four minutes and 42 seconds, with crisis workers typically responding within 11 minutes. The ANCHOR program not only aids in crisis intervention but also alleviates the burden on police resources, allowing law enforcement to address other pressing matters, according to Somerset Coun. Ariel Troster.
Despite its success, the ANCHOR program has limitations, such as being accessible only to individuals aged 16 and above and not catering to urgent medical or criminal situations. Nonetheless, the program has made a positive impact on conflict resolution within the community.
Local businesses have shown optimism about ANCHOR’s potential to address public drug use issues, although there are ongoing concerns about its limitations. Sabrina Lemay, the executive director of the Centretown BIA, acknowledged the progress but highlighted the need for further enhancements, especially in tackling public drug use and related challenges.
Looking ahead, ANCHOR aims to expand its reach southward to Carling Avenue and westward to Island Park Drive in its second year. Additionally, the city plans to launch a public performance dashboard to showcase ANCHOR’s effectiveness in the coming months.