A safer downtown for all: The inclusion of people who use drugs in community safety

This article is related directly to the Seventh International Conference on Law Enforcement & Public Health (LEPH) held in Ottawa, Canada in July 2025.

Abstract

Ottawa Inner City Health implemented a peer-led “Block Leader” program to restore peer norms, reduce visible disorder, and strengthen multi-sector relationships in the downtown core. Co-designed with people who use drugs, the program recruited and trained unhoused peer leaders to perform short, supported shifts focused on litter and equipment removal, wake-ups, wayfinding for visitors, basic supports, and referrals to low-threshold services. From 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2025, Block Leaders (n = 100) contributed 27,375 hours of shift work and recorded tens of thousands of direct contacts and service interactions. Program design features that supported acceptability and retention included low-barrier recruitment, co-designed rules and escalation pathways, modest cash stipends, regular peer meetings, and proactive engagement with businesses and outreach partners. Observational program data suggest improvements in predictable, peer-mediated interactions with residents, visitors, and local stakeholders and increased linkage to supports. Limitations include variable reporting completeness and the absence of a controlled evaluation. The Block Leader model offers a practical, transferable approach for organizations seeking to centre lived experience in community safety and well-being, and we recommend formal evaluation to quantify impacts on public safety, service access, and community perceptions.