The Town of Hay River and community groups regularly serving street-involved people have been working more closely together in recent months as homelessness and additions issues has become more apparent.

The issue of increased visibility of homeless and addicted people downtown has received attention by elected officials, including as recently as the Oct. 4 standing committee of council.

Coun. Steve Anderson asked administration what is being done as the townSA国际影视传媒檚 two banks - CIBC and Royal Bank close their ATMs at 6 p.m. every night and the branches are not providing the service at all on weekends.

SA国际影视传媒淚 did talk to the bank manager of the Royal Bank and they areSA国际影视传媒� concerned about the situation of people going into the bank after hours and sleeping in there and doing other stuff,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

SA国际影视传媒淭heySA国际影视传媒檙e looking for solutions so that they can open up and so people can access funds after 6 p.m.SA国际影视传媒�

Senior administrative officer Glenn Smith said the homelessness and addictions issue continues to be a challenge for the community but that it is difficult for the municipality to get involved in affecting when private businesses open or close.

He pointed out that Mayor Kandis Jameson is co-chairing a monthly inter-agency group to come up with solutions and the townSA国际影视传媒檚 enforcement responds as is necessary.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 obviously a problem that this council recognizes with the homeless and vulnerable populations,SA国际影视传媒� Smith said.

SA国际影视传媒淚 know the and certainly our fire department is responding when needed, but otherwise I donSA国际影视传媒檛 really have any solutions.SA国际影视传媒�

Additionally, bylaw enforcement is short a position and it isnSA国际影视传媒檛 clear if that is a tool to respond to the situation, Smith said.

Jameson said that her involvement in co-chairing the nameless inter-agency group with Erin Griffiths, CEO of the Hay River Health and Social Authority has been aiming to find answers to complex issues facing the townSA国际影视传媒檚 most vulnerable since the summer.

SA国际影视传媒淚 can assure the residents of this community that weSA国际影视传媒檙e certainly not brushing over the problem and that we have developed a working group,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

She said the municipality recognizes the issue as a downloaded GNWT problem that local groups are collaboratively trying to solve.

SA国际影视传媒淗omelessness is a GNWT issue and we are working as a municipality and as a community to try and find solutions but itSA国际影视传媒檚 not going to be a quick fix by any means,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭he right people are at the table I believe and I do think that progress has been made.SA国际影视传媒�

Jameson said Sept. 21 the municipality sees itself as an equal partner with other groups serving street vulnerable people. Other than the group, there are no real mechanisms for the town and social issues to sit around the same table to meet on common problems.

An example of immediate challenges has been ensuring street vulnerable people have access to the homeless shelter and assuring they have transportation, especially as the weather gets colder.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e in the early stages of addressing some of the issues,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淎 lot of the problem is that it is seasonal and you are going to see it a lot more when itSA国际影视传媒檚 warmer.

SA国际影视传媒淏ut I think a lot of what we are seeing really started when the (2019) high rise fire happened because of a lot of the people spent a lot of time there.SA国际影视传媒�

The purpose of the inter-agency group, which includes representatives from the Hay River Committee for Persons with Disabilities, Soaring Eagle Friendship Centre, K谩t艂SA国际影视传媒檕deeche First Nation, and the , is to try to find a permanent solution to what the community is experiencing, she said.

The Hay River Committee for Persons with Disabilities runs a temporary emergency shelter but that service is dependent on annual funding, Jameson said. The Soaring Eagle Friendship Centre complements that service with a day shelter that includes clothing, daily meals and other programming for those in need.

Jameson has said, however that Band-Aid solutions are not what Hay River needs, because many of the people being served are suffering lifelong trauma, often from the direct results of residential school.

SA国际影视传媒淲e need a long term solution. We need long term programming,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭he finding of residential school graves last spring has brought a lot of the trauma and what was done to SA国际影视传媒淚ndigenous people) to the forefront. I think as a result that we may see that itSA国际影视传媒檚 probably a little easier to find some money now to help support people.SA国际影视传媒�