Paulie Chinna, minister of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA), has declared a state of emergency Friday to settle YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 search for a new temporary homeless shelter. 

The city-owned Mine Safety building, formerly the Side Door Youth Centre, will now house services for YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 street involved population on a temporary basis under the enacted Emergency Management Act.

The building was first proposed as the site for the temporary shelter in August but later opposed by city council in support of local business expressing concern over disturbances the nearby shelter may cause.   

The GNWT said they are meeting with businesses surrounding the 49 Avenue location to come up with SA国际影视传媒渕itigating measuresSA国际影视传媒� that address their concerns. 

She acknowledged that using the powers under the Act are SA国际影视传媒渆xtraordinary measures,SA国际影视传媒� but that the need for shelter in Yellowknife is SA国际影视传媒渦rgent.SA国际影视传媒�

Chinna said she is optimistic that the GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 application for a shelter at the 44th Street location would have been successful but that with cold weather upon us SA国际影视传媒渢iming has now become a significant concern and this offers an immediate solution.SA国际影视传媒�

This decision means the alternate shelter considerations are no longer being considered.

The shelter is set to open in the coming days and will accommodate approximately 20 people from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.  

Minister of Health and Social Services (HSS) Julie Green said that SA国际影视传媒渨hile there are many issues that keep (her) awake at night, this issue of how to keep the vulnerable population in Yellowknife safe from winter has been top of mind.SA国际影视传媒�

She said the building is a space for people to go during the day to warm up, use the washroom and have a coffee, while capacities continue to be reduced at the current day and sobering centre on 50th Street. 

She stressed that the Side Door location is a temporary solution. 

The GNWT has SA国际影视传媒減lans to create a permanent day shelter in Yellowknife that will open at some point in 2023,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

The City of Yellowknife has identified 338 people experiencing homelessness in Yellowknife. To address their needs during the winter months, Green said the staff at the Department of Health and Social Services looked at 26 possible day shelter locations including government buildings, private buildings, ATCO trailers and temporary structures.  

Among possible SA国际影视传媒渕itigating strategiesSA国际影视传媒� to address the concerns of surrounding businesses, Sara Chorostkowski with the HSS, listed dedicated patrolling staff and fencing between the shelter and nearby business. 

She said the government has reached out to businesses for consultation and that SA国际影视传媒渙pen communication with the neighborsSA国际影视传媒� will be key to the shelterSA国际影视传媒檚 successful implementation.

HSS will be developing a good neighbour agreement using lessons learned from the agreement from the current shelter. Chorostkowski named the importance of early intervention, having staff that understand trauma and having proper policy and protocol in place as front of mind. 

She said the shelter would have at least five employees on site at all times and possibly more depending on decisions with patrolling staff.

She said mitigation strategies would inform the locationSA国际影视传媒檚 cost and couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 yet comment on how much would be spent on the temporary shelter. 

The decision, Chinna said, was not made lightly but that SA国际影视传媒渢his approach is the best available under the circumstances.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淲hile I recognize that this is not a long-term solution, this is one small step towards creating a better territory for all residents.SA国际影视传媒�