Mental health association clarifies services and safety at downtown centre.

CMHA North Bay says its downtown Peer Connections centre is staffed by trained peer support workers (not volunteers) and that the organization did not recently receive an extra $20 million in funding.

CMHA North Bay and District has issued a response to a Feb. 5 letter about its downtown Peer Connections centre. The association says the location serves as its main reception, meeting space and peer services centre. It emphasizes that services are provided by trained peer support staff and that volunteers do not operate the centre. The letter also addresses questions about access, funding and some operational items raised earlier. Key points: - Peer Connections is the peer services centre at CMHA North Bay’s main downtown location and functions as the organization’s reception and meeting space. - Services at Peer Connections are delivered by trained peer support staff; volunteers are not part of the centre’s operations. - The location complies with applicable building codes and accessibility standards, with a direct entrance at 333 Fraser Street and barrier-free access via the main reception at 194 Main St. West. - The organization is primarily funded by Ontario Health and the Ministry of Health and says it has not recently received an additional $20 million. - CMHA North Bay stated it does not provide outreach services and does not operate an outreach van. - The snack machine mentioned in the earlier letter is privately owned; a separate vending machine owned by the centre returns proceeds to programming. Summary: The letter aims to reassure the community about safety, dignity and inclusiveness at the downtown Peer Connections centre and to clarify several operational points raised earlier. The association said it collects service data for funders and outlined its funding sources; Undetermined at this time.