Health and Social Services Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee hints at $15 in new funding in the upcoming budget to enhance downtown Whitehorse safety. Photo Courtesy of Macklen Linke/CKRW.
Whitehorse, YT – Yesterday morning the Yukon Government provided an update on progress made on some measures listed in the Downtown Whitehorse Safety Response Action Plan in aims to boost support and outreach services downtown and provide safety for Whitehorse residents.
Firstly, additional locations have been established where people can access free food services in downtown Whitehorse made possible with organizations like the Safe at Home Society and the Council of Yukon First Nations.
Drop-in services are available at the Coast High Country Inn for lunch and dinner with several other organizations highlighted for having food services including the CYFN, Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre, and the Whitehorse Food Bank.
Also noted was that the old cafeteria in the Jim Smith building will reopen as a community space from March 18th to May 1st. The space will have computers, hot beverages, and snacks and aims to provide a safe and warm environment for folks to access services.
The Residential Managed Alcohol program is scheduled to be up and running later this spring with the Yukon Government aiming for service starting this April.
The contract with Sirius Security, which protects downtown businesses, has been extended until the end of March. The hours at the supervised consumption site have also been expanded with the long-term goal to open seven days a week.
Also, in a bid to help the city’s most vulnerable the CYFN-operated Mocassin Mobile Outreach service was launched and will provide access to services during after-hours and weekends.
Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee noted the importance of collective action to improve downtown safety and said that there are ongoing consultations with downtown businesses, NGOs, and individuals to address safety concerns. Public meetings are scheduled to take place this spring.
The Yukon Government also hinted at the upcoming budget which will include over $15 million in new funding to address the substance use health emergency, enhance community safety, and support services for gender-based violence.
The Yukon Housing Summit is set to take place next week on February 29th and will feature updates on the housing goals outlined in the Action Plan.
