Mr. Speaker, homelessness is a complex social problem. It does not lend itself to a simple solution or quick fixes. There are a number of departments involved in addressing different aspects of homelessness: Education, Culture and Employment, Health and Social Services, Justice and the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. To ensure that we move forward in the development of a coordinated response and to optimize scarce resources, I have assigned the lead responsibility to the Minister of Health and Social Services, the Honourable Michael Miltenberger.

A coordinated response to this critical issue must address the many underlying causes of homelessness. Addressing those issues in addition to ensuring an adequate supply of appropriate housing, providing options for employment, ensuring adequate income and dealing with the results of inadequate housing such as increased family violence and health problems is essential if there is ever to be a long-term solution to homelessness.

In recent weeks, the government has initiated steps toward the development of a comprehensive, coordinated, interdepartmental strategy for addressing homelessness in the Northwest Territories. A number of meetings have been held between the various Ministers and officials involved in the delivery of homeless programs, as well as with the chairperson of the Yellowknife Homelessness Coalition, Major Karen Hoeft.

On Thursday, March 25th, the deputy minister of Health and Social Services attended a meeting of the Yellowknife Homelessness Coalition and confirmed the government’s short-term priority to work with the coalition to provide adequate shelter space in the city of Yellowknife for next winter. We hope that the lessons learned from this work will assist in addressing homelessness issues in other centres such as Inuvik.

Over the next month, the Minister of Health and Social Services will work with his colleagues, other agencies, the homelessness coalition and other communities to arrange

a workshop where issues and possible approaches to addressing homelessness can be identified. During the term of the 14th Legislative Assembly a draft homelessness paper was developed for discussion. This paper will be circulated for further discussion within the next month.

Mr. Speaker, these are some of the preliminary steps taken by this government to address the serious issue of homelessness. It is critical that we work together across government and with our non-government partners to ensure people across the Northwest Territories are able to access and sustain affordable, appropriate housing over the long term. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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