Society pessimistic about shelter funding

The Yukon government remains open to providing the Youth of Today Society (YOTS) with $1.4 million in funding for its proposed emergency shelter, but society director Vicki Durrant said the government is shutting them out.

The Yukon government remains open to providing the Youth of Today Society (YOTS) with $1.4 million in funding for its proposed emergency shelter, but society director Vicki Durrant said the government is shutting them out.

“Basically, (the government) has closed the door on us,“ Durrant said in an interview Tuesday.

“I’m upset they didn’t support this because it’s for the kids ... they’re able to find money for different initiatives but not what we’re looking for.“

Last week, YOTS received news that the Department of Health and Social Services needed more information before it would fund three years of operations and maintenance for a permanent emergency youth shelter dubbed Angels’ Nest.

The society had hoped for a commitment as a $375,000-grant from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) to purchase the Hide on Jeckell Youth Hostel, hinged on the support.

In turn, one of nine information requests regarding the YOTS proposal includes a letter from the CMHC guaranteeing the grant, which Durrant said puts the society in an untenable position.

“By using this as one of their requirements, the government knows there’s no way we’re going to get that ... (CMHC) isn’t going to give us the money unless they know the O&M is in place,“ said Durrant.

YOTS will now explore other options, she said, adding the goal now was to secure the property, then explore how to finance O&M without YTG support.

This morning, Premier Dennis Fentie defended the government’s position not to fund YOTS’ Angels’ Nest shelter without more information.

“This is a sizeable request and we, the elected people of government, must make an informed decision,“ Fentie told the Star.

“We can’t lose sight of the fact that there are a number of things going on to address homelessness and we will continue to do our work there; you can’t make decisions on the fly.“

In a press release Tuesday, YTG touted its record on funding a youth homelessness project run from the Skookum Jim Friendship Centre, among YTG’s other contributions for similar initiatives, but Fentie denied it was a public relations exercise in damage control.

“No, we are responsible to inform the public and that’s all we’re doing here,“ he said.

“There are a number of things that are ongoing here and the demand of the highest priority are single-parent families, and we’re moving ahead with that, and whether it be Skookum Jim’s or the plethora of programs and services out there, the Salvation Army and the list goes on.“

Included in the release was mention of the $9-million to $11-million single-parent public housing project planned for Riverdale, $500,000 to the Journey Far Carving Program, $218,000 for the Salvation Army, $161,000 for Many Rivers youth outreach workers, $153,000 for the Outreach Van, $110,000 for the Boys’ and Girls’ Club, $110,000 for Bringing Youth Towards Equality and $110,000 for YOTS, which operates the Blue Feather youth drop-in centre.

What was missing from the list of fundees was Skookum Jim’s Outreach Program, which finds beds for youth aged 17 to 20 in need of emergency shelter.

Similar to what YOTS is proposing, Skookum Jim’s program provides emergency beds and counselling for addictions, employment, mental health and abuse issues.

However, it does not have a permanent location, but offers accommodations at the detox centre and women’s shelter in Whitehorse, and, as a last resort, at local hotels.

According to Michelle Kolla, outreach director for Skookum Jim’s, YTG gave $191,000 to the program last January, when it came on line, and extended that funding through to March 2009 for an additional $80,000.

Kolla told the Star today that since January, the program has assisted 30 youth.

Asked if a dedicated location, such as the YOTS plan, would better enable Skookum Jim’s outreach program, Kolla disagreed.

“This program is about eliminating youth homelessness,“ Kolla said. “We’re not about managing and creating an environment where (youth) become dependent on it; we’re about making them independent.“