Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services
The Side Door Youth drop-in shelter will build an addition to its downtown facility with $129,440 received from the federal government through Yellowknife's homeless coalition.
Speaking outside the Side Door, Western Arctic MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew said the coalition has access to $1,543,030. Of that money, $718,030 in matching funds goes to the coalition. Another $600,000 is available to address aboriginal homelessness and another $225,000 for youth.
"This is a very important occasion," said Blondin-Andrew. "People like you who are working closely with homeless increase the standard of living."
Kevin Laframboise, director of the Side Door, said the day was a dream come true.
"I never would have dreamed we'd be addressing homelessness in Yellowknife," said Laframboise. "When I was here six years ago we weren't a whole lot."
Laframboise plans to have six staff and a host of activities and programs for youth at the Side Door which could be a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week operation.
Salvation Army Capt. Al Hoeft said the federal program gives the coalition flexibility to allocate funds to meet needs.
"We want to work with groups to develop capacities to operate," said Hoeft. Since forming two years ago, the coalition drafted Yellowknife Community Plan to Address Homelessness. It identified program needs worth more than $4 million.
