IHARC - Integrated Homelessness & Addictions Response Centre

05/28/2026

𝗜𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱

Effective immediately, all IHARC services are temporarily suspended until further notice.

This follows a serious incident involving Cobourg Police, during which essential IHARC equipment was seized, including phones, laptops, tablets, and body cameras.

The situation began during a medical emergency in Cobourg. I became aware of a nearby emergency involving a person reportedly without vital signs and attended to help until emergency services arrived.

At all times, I identified myself as an outreach worker.

IHARC is not a police service. IHARC is not security. IHARC does not enforce laws, investigate people, compel people, or represent itself as law enforcement.

Our public materials, our outreach model, and our day-to-day work have always been clear on this point.

IHARC exists because people in crisis often need practical, non-police support. That distinction matters deeply to the people we serve.

Because this matter is now before the legal system, I have been advised to limit public comment. Legal counsel is involved, and IHARC will respond through the proper process.

The immediate impact is significant.

The seizure of IHARC’s operational equipment has directly affected our ability to respond to people who rely on us, including people experiencing homelessness, addiction, crisis, isolation, and system failure.

We know this suspension will affect people who already have very few places to turn. That is not something we take lightly.

We will provide further updates as soon as we are able to do so responsibly.

For now, IHARC services are suspended until further notice.

- - -
Jordan Stevenson
Executive Director

05/18/2026

𝗜 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗖’𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗿𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆.

We have a hard rule about not handing out cash during outreach.

It exists for good reasons. Boundaries matter. Consistency matters. So does avoiding confusion about what IHARC can and cannot do.

But today, I bent that rule.

I stopped at Victoria Hall during a regular outreach shift and ran into a client I had not seen in a while.

The last time I saw him, he was not doing great.

Today, he looked better. Like unrecognizably better.

While I was there, we started talking with a staff member who has gone above and beyond for him more than once.

She was working an event and was helping behind the bar, so she had to get back to her shift.

I could tell the conversation mattered to him and didn’t want it to end.

So I gave him a $5 bill and told him to go buy somthing so he had a reason to go over and keep talking with her for a bit.

Giving money to someone and telling them to buy a drink at a bar is not exactly “best practice” in this line of work. But I made a judgement call.

Later on, I heard what happened.

He did not buy alcohol. He bought a Pepsi and popcorn. And they talked for more than 45 minutes.

No big dramatic ending. No miracle. No perfectly wrapped-up story.

Just $5, a Pepsi, some popcorn, and a conversation that probably needed to happen.

This is a lot of what IHARC’s work actually looks like.

Not always big moments. Not always obvious outcomes.

Sometimes it is food, crisis support, safety planning, or helping someone navigate a system that is not built for them.

And sometimes it is recognizing a small opening for connection and doing just enough to help it happen.

That’s what IHARC is all about.

-Jordan

05/14/2026

Thank you Cobourg Police Service for acting swiftly on this case and ensuring this offender answers for this horrible situation.

If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual assault, please know that you’re not alone and there are resources available to support you.

No one, especially not a child, should have to experience something so horrific as this.

To the people that supported the young person in this case and reported it to the police: Thank you for being someone’s hero when they needed it most. 💙

media release
A 53-year-old Cobourg man has been arrested in a child sexual abuse and drug trafficking investigation.

READ Full release ➡️ cobourgpoliceservice.com/media/

Anyone with information is asked to call 905-372-6821 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers by phone by calling 1-800-222-8477 or online by visiting stopcrimehere.ca.

Reporting of any online exploitation can also be made at Canada’s national tipline for reporting the online sexual exploitation of children at cybertip.ca.

Cobourg Police Service reminds everyone that there is no statute of limitations for sexual offences, and offenders can be prosecuted well after the date of the offence. A sexual assault includes any non-consensual contact of a sexual nature. Police encourage anyone who feels they may have been a victim of a sexual assault to come forward and report the incident to police.

05/13/2026

𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝗱𝗱𝘆 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱 🐾

Many people in our community know Buddy.

Buddy is IHARC’s 9-year-old outreach dog, and over the years he has become a real part of our street-level work.

Before he came home, Buddy was a rescue dog who spent time in 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀.

Now he helps us connect with people who are living through homelessness, crisis, trauma, addiction, poverty, and isolation.

Sometimes outreach starts with food, socks, coffee, or a safe ride.

But often times, it starts with Buddy.

He has interacted with hundreds of people through IHARC’s work. He has helped calm difficult situations, comforted people during traumatic moments, and brought smiles to people having some of the hardest days of their lives. His impact is truly immeasurable.

Recently, Buddy needed veterinary care after a large tumor was found. A biopsy was completed, and thankfully, the results came back negative. 𝗜𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀.

That was a huge relief. But his care still came with significant veterinary costs, and it made something clear:

Buddy is not just a dog. He is a vital team member and a big part of IHARC’s outreach work.

That is why we are launching 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝗱𝗱𝘆 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱.

The Buddy Fund will help support Buddy’s care, pet supplies, grooming, and IHARC’s overall outreach programming.

Our work is built on trust and Buddy helps create that trust in a way people understand immediately.

If Buddy has ever made you smile, or if you believe in the incredible work Buddy does each day, please consider supporting The Buddy Fund.

Donate here:

https://iharc.ca/buddy-fund

Every contribution helps.

Please include “Buddy Fund” if contributing by e-transfer to [email protected]

The Buddy Fund helps cover Buddy's recent vet visit, future therapy-dog care, and IHARC programming.

05/12/2026

05/08/2026

UPDATE:

Thanks to some amazing folks in our community, this person is sleeping in a warm bed tonight!

🚨Urgent Support Needed 🚨

IHARC is currently assisting an individual fleeing domestic violence. Unfortunately, Cornerstone is at capacity and this person is facing the possibility of sleeping outside tonight.

We are asking for the public’s help to cover the cost of a motel room until a shelter space opens up.

E-transfers can be sent to:

[email protected]

No one should have to choose between sleeping outside or staying in an abusive relationship.

05/08/2026

We have gotten a number of message asking why IHARC did not attend the come together event at the CCC.

Unfortunately, IHARC was not invited to participate.

We apologize for those who stopped by wanting to learn more about the work we do.

We encourage those who would like IHARC to be involved in future events to reach out to the organizers:

Ontario Health Team of Northumberland

05/06/2026

05/05/2026

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗷𝗼𝗯𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗿, 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲.

IHARC works with people who are trying to stabilize their lives. For many, that starts with a job.

Steady work can mean rent gets paid, food gets bought, a phone stays connected, and a person stays housed.

That is why questionable local job postings are frustrating.

An 𝗟𝗠𝗜𝗔, or Labour Market Impact Assessment, is supposed to be used when an employer truly cannot find a Canadian citizen or permanent resident for a job.

The concern is that some postings may be created more to satisfy the LMIA process than to actually hire local workers. That is also why some LMIA-linked postings show wages that look unusually high. In many cases, the program requires employers to advertise wages that meet or exceed set wage standards. This is usually $36/hr

On paper, the job may look legitimate.

But in abusive versions of this system, the high wage is just part of the paperwork. Local applicants may never get a real interview. The employer may already have someone lined up. And the worker who eventually gets the job may be paid far less, pressured to return wages, or exploited through fees and immigration vulnerability.

That is not a labour shortage.

That is a system being abused against workers on both sides.

This is not about blaming temporary foreign workers. Many are victims of this exploitation.

If a job is genuinely available in Northumberland County, local workers deserve a real chance to apply and be considered.

We cannot talk about homelessness, poverty, and food insecurity while ignoring systems that may be shutting struggling local people out of work.

Local jobs should be real opportunities for local workers.

Read more about LMIA concerns here:
https://jobwatchcanada.com/the-scam

Local Job Bank listings that display indicators of LMIA abuse:

Beneco Manufacturing - Prepress Supervisor - $41/hr
https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/jobsearch/jobposting/49012180?source=searchresults

Fraser Ford - Automotive Body Technician - $36.04/hr
https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/jobsearch/jobposting/48895014?source=searchresults

Community-driven platform providing transparency about Temporary Foreign Worker program usage in Canadian businesses.

04/28/2026

STEVI Launch Webinar Rescheduled

Out of respect for the recent tragedy affecting our community and local first responders, we have made the decision to reschedule today’s STEVI Launch Webinar.

The webinar will now take place on:

Friday, May 1 at 1:00 PM

This launch remains important to our work and to the people we serve, but today is not the right moment.

Thank you for your understanding.

Updated webinar details and registration can be found here:

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