More than 20 downtown residents were given a tour of the new day shelter and sobering centre SA国际影视传媒� set to open its doors to clients next week SA国际影视传媒� on Tuesday night.
The group, all residents at Northern Heights Condominiums on 49 Street, got an up-close look inside the newly-redesigned building SA国际影视传媒� located on 50 Street beside the Northern Lites Motel SA国际影视传媒� formerly occupied by a bar.
Sept. 20 is the projected opening date.
The GNWT secured the 5111 50 Street site in September of last year, signing a five-year lease to establish a joint day shelter program and sobering centre. A major overhaul of the buildingSA国际影视传媒檚 interior was required.
SA国际影视传媒�This gives us opportunities weSA国际影视传媒檝e never had,SA国际影视传媒� said Minister of Health and Social Services Glen Abernethy, addressing the two dozen people as they weaved through the brightly-lit building.
Perry Heath, director of infrastructure planning at the GNWT, walks residents through a number of new features boasted by the joint day shelter and sobering centre, including built-in safety measures like infection-controlled flooring and indelible chairs and desks.
The centre combines the services of the day shelter SA国际影视传媒� a safe place for homeless people to stay warm SA国际影视传媒� and the sobering centre SA国际影视传媒� a space where where alcohol or drug-impaired clients can sleep off their intoxication.
Since 2014, YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 day shelter has operated out of the former Polar Parka building located on the corner of 49 Street and 51 Avenue.
The shelter is run by the NWT Disabilities Council, under contract with the GNWT.
According to Abernethy, the current day shelter SA国际影视传媒� established temporarily to meet a dire need in the downtown SA国际影视传媒� will shut its doors once the new centre has opened.
YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 sobering centre has been located at the Salvation Army since October.
By combining the two programs into one, the centre looks to provide a SA国际影视传媒渟ingle point of access for many services for a vulnerable population,SA国际影视传媒� according to the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority website.
As people saw Tuesday evening, the new centre boasts a number of features not seen at the current location, including additional shower, bathroom and laundry services. There will be increased staffing and a number of design considerations that put safety at the forefront of the blueprint.
The new centre can host a maximum of 27 people.
Minister of Health and Social Services Glen Abernethy, left, and Perry Heath, director of infrastructure planning, right, field questions from some of the two dozen Northern Heights condo residents who took part in a tour of the new day and sobering centre Tuesday evening.
With added space in the new centre SA国际影视传媒� one of the biggest differences between buildings SA国际影视传媒� Abernethy said the building will have outreach programs that weren't feasible at Safe Harbour.
With the extra space, the goal is introduce an array of therapy programs, from anger management to healing and healthy relationship workshops.
To assist clients in identifying personal goals, there are plans to create an SA国际影视传媒渋ntegrated case management,SA国际影视传媒� position at the centre.
The new centre will be open 24-hours a day, with the day shelter operating from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The sobering centre, which closes its doors for two hours mid-day, operates from 10 a.m. to 8 a.m.
