A number of Talbot Street business owners feel that something needs to be done about the Psychiatric Survivors Network Of Elgin. The mental health, addictions, homelessness support system at 701 Talbot Street aims to capture individuals that are in need of help in the community and direction them to the services they need.
Businesses in the area say that PSNE’s clientele do not have respect for the neighbouring businesses and have been causing an increasing number of negative instances. The businesses have reported thefts, people gathering in front of their business, cat calling clients, injecting behind the stores, vomit and human feces.
Owner of CTP Computers which is directly beside PSNE Sandy Vazquez says that the situation is not improving.
Vazquez says that he has spoken with PSNE on a number of occasions to which he feels that they are not properly equipped to deal with their clientele.
Vazquez says that he has spent thousands of dollars out of pocket to install security cameras and securing his premise. He has also contacted the police for more serious instances and also spoken with City Clerks and Mayor Joe Preston. Vazquez noted that while they have taken a number of steps to try and solve the problem, the one thing they cannot control is the intimidation that their clients feel about coming to the area.
Executive Director of PSNE Lori Pelley says that they do try and make sure their clients respect the area businesses.
Pelley says that while she does feel bad about the situation she knows there are other areas of the downtown going through the same situation.
Pelley says that while they are doing their best to monitor and deal with the issues, there is only so much they can do with other people’s property.
