Nine Circles Community Health Centre, with expertise in the care and treatment of HIV, Hepatitis C and other sexually transmitted infections, delivers comprehensive primary care, social support, education and prevention services – creating healthier communities for Manitobans.

Nine Circles operates from a harm reduction approach, empowering individuals to make informed choices based on accurate information and a range of options without judgement. Harm reduction refers to evidence-based research, policies, programmes and practices that aim to minimize negative health, social and legal impacts associated with the stigma and criminalization of activities related to sex and substance use.

Nine Circles offers a variety of programs including:

• Bi-monthly food bank.
• Hi5 Fund (the Roman numeral for “5” is “V”, the name provided by a client of Nine Circles), which helps clients cover the cost of things not covered by other funding/programs, like: clothing and household items, glasses, medical devices, hair loss/mastectomy products for cancer treatment, work-related expenses such as criminal record checks and work boots.
• Meals, snacks and other items like bus tickets that help remove barriers for clients to attend mental health groups and other programming.
• Anti-stigma programming and projects that dispel myths about HIV, combat discrimination against people with HIV and work to get more people tested, more people connected to care, and fewer people contracting HIV.
• Honoraria for people with lived experience so they can be compensated for contributing their insights/knowledge when participating in program planning and various advisories.

Their newest program, The Pit Stop Program, offers free services to their community as well as those in the West Broadway community who are homeless or housing insecure including: Distribution of safer drug use supplies, access to safe sex supplies, access to free take-home-naloxone for anyone at risk of an opioid overdose and training on how to use naloxone, practical supports to reduce harm and transmission of STBBIs, access to hygiene and menstrual items, footwear, wound care kits, food and beverages and seasonal items like toques, hats and baseball caps.

Nine Circles Community Health Centre clients and community members love their harm reduction services, especially The Pit Stop. Here are a few things their clients have said about their services.

“Y’all are always so nice and welcoming, and I love that there’s no judgement whatsoever. Thank you guys for doing this for the people who are in need of the supplies and other things you offer.”

“Thank you for your services, they are greatly appreciated.”

“I love that this is a service in my community.”

Throughout the month of December, purchase cupcakes in-store at Academy, Island Lakes or The Forks, through SkipTheDishes, or online and 5% of all sales will be donated to Nine Circles Community Health Centre and their programming.

 
To learn more about Nine Circles Community Health Centre, you can visit their website here.

Together, we can help create healthier communities in Manitoba.