Home Base Yellowknife has acquired an outreach vehicle for youth and about $200,000 in funding from the Department of Health and Social Services.
Tammy Roberts, executive director of Home Base Yellowknife, said it feels great to have the help.
"I know that we're going to try and make a difference," she said.
The outreach program was scheduled to officially launch on Oct. 10, said Roberts. The outreach vehicle, a Chevrolet Traverse SUV that seats seven passengers, will be in use between 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. seven days a week, she added. The organization's goal is to help youth at risk and provide some education along the way.
Roberts explained the need for the vehicle came in response to returning home from evacuating during the summer of 2023.
"There was an increase to what we're used to in youth that were intoxicated, out in public," she explained. "We quickly found out that the street outreach vehicle only picks up people 19 and older."
That other vehicle Roberts is referring to is the city's outreach vehicle, which is run by the Yellowknife Women's Society. Because of the gap in service for youth, would have to keep youth in cells, which is not ideal, Roberts said. Alternatively, they'd be put in a hospital until they sobered up, which she said is a waste of healthcare resources.
She also mentioned the homeless encampment by Aspen Apartments. She said that youth will hang out there and some of the adults don't know what to do with them, she said.
"At least they can call," said Roberts SA国际影视传媒� that number is 867-446-7233. "We're hoping that it will be another option that won't be so traumatizing."
The majority of Home Base's funding is going towards staffing, Roberts explained, because driving the vehicle is a two-person job.
"During the day, when we technically don't have people out driving, we have people working that could go, if needed," she said. Some Home Base staff are full-time, others part-time, so Roberts couldn't give an exact number on how many people are employed through the organization.
Part of Home Base's new program also features a sobering space, which can be found on 52 Street, where Hope's Haven used to be located.
"There will be a designated spot in there for a sobering site," said Roberts. She added that all staff are educated on how to support youth under the influence as part of their onboarding training.
That site is only to sober up and not to help youth overcome their addictions, she noted. In fact, there are currently no addictions facilities operating in the NWT.
Andrew Wind, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Services, said there were four treatment facilities in the NWT at various times in the past, all of which are now closed.
"When the most recent facility closed in 2013, the department entered into contracts with southern facilities to ensure NWT residents had access to facility-based addictions treatment," said Wind. "The department is in conversations with Indigenous governments to explore opportunities for partnership to enhance in-territory addictions support options. These conversations are ongoing."
Roberts said it would be nice to have options both in and outside of the territory.
The outreach funding will last until the middle of January, she added. After that, she has some leads on other sources of potential financial support.
"It would probably be another sobering site," said Roberts, when asked what else she'd like to add. "It'd be nice to have a little bit more space for this."
Home Base is also seeking funding for a new building for youth. The organization owns a lot near city hall that could accommodate the would-be building. The site currently has a structure being used for youth housing.
"That would be a tear down and then our building would be there," said Roberts.
The replacement would feature a sobering centre, a youth centre and levels of housing based on clients' needs, she said.
