This bus is one of those resources that really seems to work. Having spoken to the clients who use it, the bus and the people who work on it, go well beyond the call of duty. Let’s make sure it stays on the road.
Here’s the story.
Diane Mellec and Les Mcintyre are very familiar with the Alex Health Bus.
That’s because they lived on and off the streets for the last 7 years and accessed the bus regularly.
Mcintyre gets emotional – just thinking about all the help he received.
“The amount of stuff they’ve done for us is just unreal.”
Mellec agrees.
“Knowing they’re out here gives you a little bit of hope.”
The pair received crisis counselling as well as all kinds of medical help.
McIntyre explains, ” I have chronic pain in my legs – I’d get acetaminophen from them, maybe a small hamper from them, clean socks, gloves, toques whatever you needed in the winter.”
The totally refurbished, 35 foot RV hits the streets 5 days a week, visiting 10 locations around Calgary. It has 2 private exam rooms and a waiting area.
It makes about 11 thousand contacts per year, explains Wes Lafortune, the bus’ Team Lead.
“It delivers direct health care, there’s a nurse on board, there’s a crisis counsellor on board so you get immunizations, educational health services, referrals… it could be basic multivitamins to a physician doing a full health assessment.”
The Alex Health Bus is not just a medical facility on wheels. As the people who use it say, it’s also a place of friendship.
“It gave you something to look forward to, knowing they were out here, even just somebody to talk to – you know where they are and you know they’ll always welcome you on the bus,” says Mellec.
McIntyre, “even if we weren’t needing anything, we’d see the bus and stop in and say hi.”
It also gave these two the incentive they needed to change their lives. Since last december, they’ve been living off the streets.
McIntyre says, “since we’ve been off the street, it’s actually been very good for us, we’re getting our health back, we’re eating regular and if it wasn’t for this bus behind me all of this wouldn’t have happened.”
Mellec says, “they’re just very good people, they’re like a godsend.”
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For more information or to make a donation to the Alex Health Bus visit their website: