YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 newest shelter is a hit.
SA国际影视传媒淭he guys are happy, the people are happy for it,SA国际影视传媒� Michael Fatt, perhaps the citySA国际影视传媒檚 best-known advocate for street-involved individuals, said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a hit right now, because at this particular time of year, itSA国际影视传媒檚 a very depressing time of year. YouSA国际影视传媒檙e going to be finding these guys, drinking a little bit heavier, and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 part of the challenge.SA国际影视传媒�
Fatt, also the president of the Crazy Indians Brotherhood, was joined by dignitaries including Health Minister Julie Green and Yellowknife Mayor Rebecca Alty at an open house at the new temporary day shelter Dec. 9.
Housed in modular units previously used in a work camp and placed at the formner site of the visitors centre at the end of 49 Street, the shelter has been operating since Dec. 6.
Fatt said the shelter clients heSA国际影视传媒檚 spoken to appreciate the speed at which it all came together.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檒l tell you right now, when these guys come in here, thereSA国际影视传媒檚 enough space here, they can go in the back, they can lay down,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭hey can relax in comfort for at least half a day. They can shed off that cold, ugly feeling.SA国际影视传媒�
Mayor Alty said she expects the shelter to be SA国际影视传媒渨ell-used.
SA国际影视传媒淲hen the day shelter was created, it was with the SA国际影视传媒榥o lives lost in the winterSA国际影视传媒� philosophy, and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 what itSA国际影视传媒檚 doing, so I think itSA国际影视传媒檚 providing that key service in the city,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 great to have the second one open.SA国际影视传媒�
According to Jenna Scarfe, director for mental health and community wellness for the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority, the shelter has been serving around 50 unique indivuduals daily.
SA国际影视传媒淪o far thatSA国际影视传媒檚 been going really well,SA国际影视传媒� said Scarfe. SA国际影视传媒淲e havenSA国际影视传媒檛 had to turn anybody away.SA国际影视传媒�
Operating hours for the day shelter are from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Inside it provides washroom facilities, laundry, a quiet space with different entertainment items, and a kitchen area, which isnSA国际影视传媒檛 up and running yet. The shelter has been going through about 35 catered meals a day; staff there need to undergo food safe training before the in-house kitchen can be used.
SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e never run out of meals,SA国际影视传媒� Scarfe said. SA国际影视传媒淲e would, for sure, reevaluate that if we were ever in a situation where werenSA国际影视传媒檛 ordering enough food but as of right now we have meals left everyday.SA国际影视传媒�
Businesses assisting with catering include but are not limited to the Copperhouse Eatery and Lounge, as well as Javaroma Coffee and Tea.
According to Green the clientele who use the facility, through work done by the City of Yellowknife, are SA国际影视传媒渙verwhelmingly Indigenous.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淭hey are overwhelmingly either the children of residential school attendees or they attended themselves,SA国际影视传媒� said Green. SA国际影视传媒淪o they are in a very vulnerable situation.
SA国际影视传媒淚 just canSA国际影视传媒檛 tell you how pleased I am to welcome you to a wide-open, functioning, warm, pleasant place to be for our homeless population, in this, the dead of winter, and through the next three years until we get a permanent wellness and recovery centre open downtown.SA国际影视传媒�
