Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the auditor general tabled findings on addictions prevention and recovery services. The OAG found that the GNWT did not do enough to provide residents with accessible, coordinated, and culturally safe addictions services including specific reference to aftercare supports.
A previous OAG report on the NWT's child and family services found that substance misuse was a factor that put children at risk in 83 percent of files. The finding is reflected in the accounts of several youth here in Yellowknife. They have shared that though technically they have homes, they resort to homelessness as a safer option because of substance abuse in the home or the need to leave the child protection system.
Mr. Speaker, our northern housing solutions, or lack thereof, are directly impacting our residents' ability to access homes free of substance abuse and violence, homes that allow them to maintain sobriety, and homes that provide avenues for prevention.
Mr. Speaker, 20 percent of Canada's homeless population are youth between 13 and 24. That's at least 35,000 Canadian youth experiencing homelessness and up to 40 percent of those youth identify as 2SLGBTQIPA+. Many young Canadians experiencing homelessness flip between friends' homes, shelters, and the streets.
But Mr. Speaker, Yellowknife might be home to Canada's Arctic only youthfocused homelessness solution called Home Base YK. Every night, Home Base opens its doors and offers a night of safety and warmth to roughly 20 NWT youth. But these beds are not enough and some youth, predominantly girls, are forced to choose the streets.
Mr. Speaker, across Canada many youth experiencing homelessness were also in the care of child protection services. The North is no different. Leaving the child protection system and transitioning to independent living is a challenging process. It requires government support and an aftercare plan. Across Canada, streetinvolved youth are six times more likely to be victimized and in the NWT, rates of substance abuse and violence are even higher. Safe housing is a human right at every age. Safe housing is at the core of any aftercare plan.
Homelessness exposes our youth to spiralling harms, including sexual exploitation, economic exploitation, traumatic events, declining health, and addictions. Youthfocused housing solutions affording our children safety, security, and the social supports necessary to transition from childhood to adulthood is prevention, Mr. Speaker.
Every child deserves to live and grow in a healthy home. Our children need us, this Assembly, government workers, civil society, and every person to come together and ensure their right to the safe housing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Members' statements. Member for Monfwi.
