Julie Green, Yellowknife Centre MLA, is calling on the GNWT and the city to immediately address service gaps for community members left SA国际影视传媒渙ut in the coldSA国际影视传媒� amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a letter addressed to health minister Diane Thom and Mayor Rebecca Alty, Green says Yellowknife's most vulnerable residents - men and women who are homeless or struggle with addictions - have been left high and dry following significant changes to the Day Shelter and Sobering Centre.
The NWT Disabilities Council-run centre has been repurposed to isolate 30 homeless individuals for 30 days.
With the centre now at capacity; the public library closed; and temporary day shelter at the Salvation Army, operated by the Health Authority, shut down as of Sunday, people most in need are being forgotten, wrote Green.
SA国际影视传媒淚t's as if we have gone back in time,SA国际影视传媒� stated Green.
She said concerned residents have been informing her that people are sitting outside of the Salvation Army in SA国际影视传媒渢he cold mornings with no access to the building SA国际影视传媒� no home to go to, no day shelter, no library, no coffee shop.SA国际影视传媒�
"In the midst of a global health emergency, these people, men and women, are sitting on the sidewalk while the rest of us addressed in this email self-isolate inside our homes,SA国际影视传媒� continued Green.
Green said sheSA国际影视传媒檚 learned that concerned citizens have been calling Yellowknife Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to attend to people who laying outside the building - unconscious or intoxicated.
SA国际影视传媒淲here is EMS taking these people: to the hospital? I have heard that the are again picking up intoxicated people and sheltering them in cells,SA国际影视传媒� the MLA wrote.
SA国际影视传媒淣o doubt there are good intentions to make this situation better, but when? The need is immediate and a response is needed immediately. We can't provide safety for every other sector of our society and leave intoxicated people out in the cold, literally.SA国际影视传媒�
In posting the letter online Tuesday, Green said it was her third attempt to get answers from Thom; and her first request for a response from Alty.
