The city's Point-in-Time Count, a project that helps measure homelessness in Yellowknife, was held last month and while we don't yet know how many people are experiencing homelessness in Yellowknife, we do know one thing: some people received incentives for taking part.
One of those incentives, though, may raise some eyebrows with cigarettes reportedly being given to some participants. According to the city, it was done with federal approval.
"The incentives provided SA国际影视传媒� gift cards and cigarettes SA国际影视传媒� were used in accordance with guidance from federal government staff, who advised that such items could be offered as gifts or honoraria," the city wrote in an email to SA国际影视传媒.
SA国际影视传媒 approached Coun. Ben Hendriksen, chair of the city's community advisory board, to see if he knew anything about this.
Hendriksen said he had nothing else to say beyond the city's response to SA国际影视传媒 on the matter.
SA国际影视传媒 first learned about this deal when a homeless couple in living in the city spoke out about those conducting the count.
Russell Hamilton and Tony Tobac, who have been staying in the encampment by Aspen Apartments, said the workers were getting people to complete their survey by offering them cigarettes and gift cards.
Hamilton explained that, while at the encampment, the people who came by to conduct the survey made a simple deal.
"When I finished mine, [the person working] apologized because she only had two cigarettes to give me, whereas her co-worker gave one of the other people half a pack of cigarettes," he said.
It also appears that those who were conducting the survey may have attracted extra attention because of what they were offering.
"There were only four of us in the area at the time, but people were coming in all over the place downtown because they were promised a $10 gift card and free cigarettes to come and answer questions," Hamilton said.
Tobac criticized the deal of giving out addictive substances when a lot of homeless people in Yellowknife already struggle with addiction.
"That's not right," she said. "I wouldn't do that."
As for the gift cards, Hamilton said homeless people would trade those for other addictive substances, adding that the GNWT's Integrated Service Delivery and Housing First were working together to complete this survey.
SA国际影视传媒 reached out to ICM for comment but instead found answers with the Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs.
Toyeke Adedipe, a senior communications officer with the Department of Finance, explained that any GNWT staff who conducted surveys were volunteering to support the city and were following the survey methodology it developed.
"However, no Integrated Service Delivery staff participated in this capacity for the Point-in-Time Count," said Adedipe.
The Yellowknife Women's Society, the organization in charge of Housing First, said in an email to SA国际影视传媒 that it has been common practice to exchange gift cards for taking part in surveys.
"We have no control over how individuals choose to use their gift cards once theySA国际影视传媒檝e received them as part of the survey process," said Renee Sanderson, executive director of the women's society.
When asked about whether cigarettes were at all involved. Sanderson said she has nothing to contribute on that matter.
What is already known is that for the count, a total of 40 volunteers, mostly front-line workers, would be the ones working on it, according to Dan Ritchie, a homelessness specialist with the city.
Having previously spoken to SA国际影视传媒, Ritchie said that count would take place sometime in early October.
When it comes to the actual count, Hamilton said he thought the final number will be skewed.
"They're missing people," he said. "There are tents all over the place.'
Hamilton and Tobac said they've been keeping warm at the encampment by using a propane stove inside their tent.
Adedipe previously told SA国际影视传媒 that "everyone in the camp had access to alternative sheltering options", but the couple doesn't agree.
"We have no place to go," Hamilton said.
The last time a Point-in-Time Count happened in Yellowknife was in 2021 which identified 312 homeless people.
