The premier of the Northwest Territories says a whole-of-government approach is needed to adequately address homelessness in the territory.
Caroline Cochrane tabled a long-awaited plan Wednesday to support people experiencing homelessness and prevent others from becoming homeless.
SA国际影视传媒淭he problem is that SA国际影视传媒� and we found that before even we dealt with homelessness SA国际影视传媒� we all work in silos,SA国际影视传媒� Cochrane told reporters.
She said the first step will be to create a unit dedicated to addressing homelessness within the Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs. She said that would help to co-ordinate work being done by several departments.
The plan details a number of goals and solutions. It focuses on working with community partners, improving access to services and increasing housing options, along with improving data collection, analysis and sharing.
The strategy aims to reduce homelessness to a level that can be effectively managed or SA国际影视传媒渇unctional zeroSA国际影视传媒� in all communities. It also includes expanding integrated service delivery with a person-centred approach, training for front-line service workers, targeted programming for groups, including people transitioning from correctional centres, and reducing stigma.
Cochrane said she would like to see homeless shelters established in every region. Currently, there are only shelters in Yellowknife, Inuvik and Hay River, while other housing supports are available in several communities.
SA国际影视传媒淧eople do better when theySA国际影视传媒檙e around their friends and their family,SA国际影视传媒� Cochrane said. SA国际影视传媒淲hen they want to change and get healthier and thereSA国际影视传媒檚 no support there except for their friendship network, weSA国际影视传媒檙e setting them up to fail.SA国际影视传媒�
The premier said she understands the challenges facing both people experiencing homelessness and front-line workers. She said she was a SA国际影视传媒渟treet kidSA国际影视传媒� sleeping on peopleSA国际影视传媒檚 couches at the age of 13 and worked as a social worker for 20 years before entering politics.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 about making people understand that homeless people are people, theySA国际影视传媒檙e our sisters, our brothers, our uncles, our cousins, our friends,SA国际影视传媒� she said of the government plan. SA国际影视传媒淲e need to change the public perception so that people understand that these people are people, and theySA国际影视传媒檙e going through a lot of pain but they still are loved.SA国际影视传媒�
The previous territorial government first announced intentions to develop a homelessness strategy in September 2018. Tabling of the final document comes just months before the current government will sit for the last time ahead of the territorial election in October.
When asked in the legislature Wednesday why it took so long, Cochrane said it required the work of multiple departments waylaid by the COVID-19 pandemic.
She told reporters the dedicated homelessness unit will be created before the election.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 going to need residents and (non-governmental organizations), Indigenous governments, community people to actually hold us to account in the next assembly,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
Data on the number of people experiencing homelessness across the territory is limited.
A 2021 point-in-time homeless count found 312 people were experiencing homelessness in Yellowknife, more than half of whom were chronically homeless. Indigenous people accounted for nearly 92 per cent of those experiencing homelessness compared to 23 per cent of the citySA国际影视传媒檚 total population.
The 2021 census states that 13.2 per cent of households across the territory were in core housing need, meaning their housing did not meet at least one standard of adequacy, affordability or suitability.
Robert Tordiff, assistant deputy minister for the Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs, said data collection will be critical for evolving programs and services going forward.
Cochrane added it will also be important for tracking progress.
-By Emily Blake, The Canadian Press
