For Discussion
City
of Yellowknife Social Plan
What is the
Social Plan?
The
goal of the social plan is to enhance the welfare of Yellowknife
citizens. The social plan will define the City of Yellowknife’s
role in responding to social issues. The plan will:
Summarize
key social issues and conditions.
Inventory
services and programs by government and non-government agency
responsibility.
Evaluate
service gaps and concerns.
Recommend
a process to build consensus for coordinated action to address gaps
in social services and concerns.
At
minimum, the plan will consider:
-crime
and public safety -homelessness -substance abuse
-children
and youth -seniors -ethnic diversity
-process
-public education -organizational capacity
-access
to social programs/services
In
January, the City of Yellowknife contracted with Lutra Associates
Ltd., of Yellowknife, and the Social Planning and Research
Council of British Columbia to prepare the social plan.
Not Just Roads
and Sewers!
The
City of Yellowknife acknowledges that it has a responsibility for the
well-being of Yellowknifers. The City’s responsibility extends
beyond traditional services like safe water, sewage treatment, roads,
and recreation. City Hall already coordinates Yellowknife’s
Homelessness Coalition and distributes grants to community
organizations. Up until now, it has not had a social plan for
furthering community well-being.
What
role do you think the City can play to address social issues?
A
Preliminary Scan of Yellowknife’s Social
Issues.
Yellowknife
has significant housing concerns.
The
Yellowknife Homelessness Coalition has made progress on transitional
housing for adult men but there is a lack of emergency and
transitional housing for women and youth.
Suitable,
affordable housing challenges many city residents but the
City is working on an Affordable Housing Strategy.
The
average personal income in Yellowknife is higher than the
Canadian average but,
The
income disparities between the ‘have’ and ‘have
nots’ are striking and food security and nutritional health
are growing concerns.
Substance
abuse/addictions and the illegal drug trade
are related to other social problems.
The
Yellowknife Wellness Coalition is tackling these issues. More active
community policing and prevention programs
help to curtail the drug trade and other criminal activity but these
efforts need to be intensified and sustained. Treatment facilities
and a day-time drop-in center for people on the street would also
help.
Yellowknife
is a small city facing big city public safety issues.
Lack
of public washrooms and public telephones, public drug and alcohol
abuse, and poor lighting, litter, and lack of care of some public
spaces are among the factors that create concerns about personal
safety in public places.
About
one-quarter of Yellowknife’s population is Aboriginal and 10%
are members of visible minorities.
There
are not a lot of ways to publicly celebrate and serve the needs of
Yellowknife’s ethnically diverse population or ensure
that all residents participate in, and contribute to the community.
Yellowknife
has always had a young population but the number of seniors
is growing.
There
is no coordinated community response to the needs of children and
youth.
New
ways of operating are needed to better serve seniors.
Is this an accurate assessment of
social issues in Yellowknife? What perspectives or issues are
missing?
Who has
Responsibility for Social Issues?
Crime
and Public Safety
The
RCMP and the federal or territorial legal system have the main
legislative, financial, and implementation responsibilities for
addressing crime. Bylaws shape the City of Yellowknife’s
responsibilities for public safety.
Homelessness,
Social and Affordable Housing
Responsibilities
for homelessness and social and affordable housing are shared by
federal and territorial agencies. Non-government organizations (NGOs)
such as YWCA Yellowknife, the Centre for Northern Families, and the
Salvation Army, are contracted by governments to address various
housing needs. The City of Yellowknife has taken responsibility for
coordinating, supporting partnerships, and planning to address some
housing issues.
Substance
Abuse
The
GNWT through agreements with the federal government, the Yellowknife
Health and Social Services Authority, NGOs, and the Yellowknives Dene
First Nation respond to alcohol and drug counselling, prevention,
treatment, and awareness needs. The City of Yellowknife enforces
bylaws and may fund some NGOs to address substance abuse issues.
Well-being
The
main responsibility for income and food security rests with the GNWT.
Some NGOs rely on donations and fundraising to supply food,
clothing, furniture, and services to needy residents. The City of
Yellowknife through partnerships and bylaws supports residents’
well-being.
Children
and Youth
The
territorial government has the main responsibility for children and
youth in the home and school environments. No level of government has
clear responsibility for youth and children in the community. The
SideDoor Youth Centre is the only agency in the city dedicated to
serving youth and the City continues to work with the Center and
others to address youth issues.
Seniors
The
federal and territorial governments have financial, social, and
health responsibilities for seniors. The City of Yellowknife provides
grants and cost reductions. The Yellowknife Seniors’ Society is
a main source of social programming and advocacy.
Ethnic Diversity
It is federal policy to support
multiculturalism in Canada. The federal and territorial governments
provide funding to showcase multiculturalism or target services at
Aboriginal people or new Canadians. The City of Yellowknife may
assist groups through the community grant program.
What is the City’s
legislative, financial, and implementation responsibility for
addressing social issues?
Issues
Yellowknife’s Social Plan Could Consider.
Organizational
Capacity
1.
Many government agencies and NGOs lack staff and/or volunteers,
funds, and training and the demand for some services outstrips
supply.
Coordination
2.
Some planning and coordination of services happens through
coalitions. Where coalitions exist they are often challenged to
maintain momentum, leadership, and focus. Many agencies may also lack
the capacity to participate in coalitions.
Public Education
3.
Residents and newcomers have no ‘one-stop’ source for
information about social services.
Access
to Services
4.
Youth, seniors, and new Canadians may not be well served by social
programs and services designed for the general population.
Leadership
5.
There is no central ‘big picture’ social agency that
brings government, First Nations, and NGOs together to plan and
address social issues. Businesses may be an untapped source of
expertise and financial or in-kind help.
Are there
other gaps in services and concerns?
What could
the City’s role be in addressing these gaps?
Exercising
Social Responsibility.
There are many ways that the
City of Yellowknife’s bylaws, financial decisions, and policies
influence social conditions. For example, City bylaws can influence
where, how, and the type of housing that is available. Grants to
community groups can focus on particular social issues. The City can
and does appoint representatives to boards such as the Yellowknife
United Way, to influence social priorities and responses.
How can the
City best exercise its responsibility for improving social
conditions?
Participate in the City of Yellowknife Social
Plan.
Learn
more. Consider the questions in this newsletter. Tell us what you
think.
Here’s
how.
April 2, 2009 Key Agency Focus Group
City
Hall, Lower Boardroom 1:30 - 3:30pm
April 23, 2009 Community Social Plan Public
Forum
Northern
United Place 7:00 - 9:00 pm
Contact
a member of City Council or Dennis Marchiori, Director of Public
Safety at 920-5661or dmarchiori@yellowknife.ca.
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