KITCHENER — A local anti-poverty group plans to set up spaces in Kitchener for people to use drugs "and not worry about dying" of an opioid overdose.

"The community we work with is greatly affected by this," said activist Julian Ichim. "We're going to do something."

On Thursday afternoon, the group is gathering in downtown Kitchener and then will walk to where the site will be set up that day. Every day, it will move to a different spot.

"We're basically setting up a space for several hours where people can come and use safely," Ichim said.

He said it will be a tent-like structure and people who are trained in administering naloxone and CPR will be ready to intervene if there's an overdose.

The site will be open every day from 4 to 8 p.m. when there are few places to go, and people will be told where it will be the following day. For now, it's staying in Kitchener.

"Most of the places we're setting up will be very visible," Ichim said.

The group is hoping the temporary site will pressure the Region of Waterloo to take action on the opioid crisis.

Waterloo Regional Police reported that they responded to a record number of suspected opioid overdoses in January. Of the 75 suspected overdoses officers were called to that month, 10 people died.

The region has been working on opening a supervised consumption site since June 2017. Currently it's looking more closely at four sites on the shortlist, three in Kitchener and one in Cambridge. Forums were held in late January and early February in both cities to get public feedback on the locations under consideration.

"We're hoping this will open a dialogue with the region and push the region to do something about the overdoses," Ichim said.

Region of Waterloo Public Health said Wednesday they were not aware of the "unsanctioned pop-up site."

"Public Health and our system partners will work together to monitor the situation closely," said Grace Bermingham, manager of harm reduction.

Unsanctioned overdose-prevention sites have popped up in Toronto, and regional councillors have previously discussed the concern that inaction could prompt temporary operations to set up here.

Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic said the city has been an "engaged, integral partner" in the integrated drug strategy as well as the regional opioid crisis.

"We recognize the frustration of this group and others and have been a strong voice in advocating for action, as the loss of lives is not acceptable."

Vrbanovic said the city and region must follow provincial rules on the creation of sites, and the region is close to finalizing recommendations.

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"I would urge this group and any group to respect the law and the processes in place," he said. "It is important that we don't lose sight of the concern for neighbourhoods when unregulated sites are created, the need for public health to be involved and we encourage the group to work with public health."

jweidner@therecord.com

Twitter: @WeidnerRecord