Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, homelessness in our communities is a critical issue that we need to address together. Homelessness is complex and affected by many factors. People who are homeless often have traumatic past and current lives, most struggle with mental health issues, behavioural concerns, and/or addictions that need to be addressed. Because homelessness is complex, approaches that don’t include collaboration, or that are not sustainable don’t work.
Collaboration begins with those with lived experience, it extends to all sectors of government, and to each of us as individuals. As Minister responsible for Addressing Homelessness, the first priority was to listen to those currently homeless and agencies providing support to homeless people. This was the objective of the Yellowknife Homelessness Forum conducted in April 2016. Recommendations were gathered and two working groups were formed in collaboration with other Government of the Northwest Territories departments, non-government organizations, Yellowknife Dene First Nation and the City of Yellowknife.
The first working group comprised of non-government organizations, and government officials reviewed Government of the Northwest Territories policies and provided a listing of policies that impacted people’s ability to obtain and retain housing. A Government of the Northwest Territories interdepartmental working group is utilizing this information to begin working on improving policy integration and better co-ordination of services, as part of the mandate commitment to review homeless supports and improve policy and program consistency between departments.
The working group is examining ways to address service gaps, duplications, and barriers contributing to homelessness. This group will also consider issues such as housing instability, mental health, addictions, poverty, domestic violence, child intervention and justice-system involvement. The policy review conducted through the Yellowknife Homelessness Forum will also be included in a full review of the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation policies to begin in January, 2017, once all feedback from our engagement survey are received and compiled.
The second working group from the Homelessness Forum was headed by the mayor of the City of Yellowknife and included a cross section of homelessness stakeholders including the Government of the Northwest Territories. This group was responsible for compiling the forum recommendations, examining and prioritizing these suggestions. This work has concluded and the group’s top recommendations include continued support for Housing First, creating semi-independent units in unused shelter space, extension of overnight shelter hours, a street outreach program and development of a 10- year homelessness plan. Although the work of this group has concluded, the Government of the Northwest Territories will continue to work with the City of Yellowknife and other stakeholders to address the priorities identified within this report as per the mandate commitment to work in partnership with other orders of government to address affordable housing requirements.
Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation has already begun implementing some of the priorities identified. The Government of the Northwest Territories made a commitment in its mandate to develop program approaches such as Housing First. Housing First is an approach used in other jurisdictions that involves collaborative service delivery and avoids an organization-by-organization approach. The Northwest Territories Housing Corporation supports this approach and will be providing $150,000 to support the Yellowknife Women’s Society in implementing Housing First in Yellowknife. There is also $600,000 budgeted to create new semi-independent units for chronically homeless individuals within overnight emergency shelters. Due to space limitations within the shelters, we are only able to provide 15 individual units at this time. It is important to note that these units will also follow a Housing First model in that they are for chronically homeless individuals, they are not transitional, and services will be offered as per the need and desire of the tenant.
Mr. Speaker, these are highlights from the priorities of the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation has identified, but the partnership with the Department of Health and Social Services in addressing the issues related to homelessness also needs to be mentioned. Some highlights from the Department of Health and Social Services include the agreement with the Northwest Territories Disabilities Council over the summer to expand the provision of services for the Safe Harbour Day Shelter in Yellowknife. By the end of this year, the Safe Harbour Day Shelter will be open 12-hours a day, seven-days a week.
Minister Abernethy has also directed the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority, Yellowknife region, to complete the design for a sobering centre program in Yellowknife. They are actively seeking an appropriate location, and working to identify funds from within the Government of the Northwest Territories to support this program. These actions are a first step towards responding to the road map recommendations. Other initiatives through Health and Social Services such as the Territorial Anti-Poverty Action Plan and the Mental Health and Addictions Framework will also support an integrated continuum of services which may contribute to a reduction in homelessness.
As stated earlier, the Government of the Northwest Territories is mandated to work with other orders of government to address affordable housing requirements. As such, the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation is lobbying hard within the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministerial meetings. The federal government is listening and has agreed to implement a northern pillar within the National Housing Strategy. They are also considering accessibility within this strategy. The Government of the Northwest Territories is hopeful that the roll out of the National Housing Strategy, and specifically the northern pillar, will allow us to expand on our supports to homeless people throughout the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, no one approach will get us to where we need to be. We need to provide options, we need to implement a number of actions, and we need to work together. Only by working together with our partners, including other levels of government and community organizations will we strengthen services to address homelessness and provide effective support to those in need. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Ministers' statements. Honourable Premier
