Line Drive Youth Outreach Program

The Cause

HomeBase YK, is committed to addressing the critical needs of vulnerable youth between the ages of 12-24 in our community. We acknowledge the increasingly complex support needs for this demographic and this has been more evident since the Wildfire Evacuation in August/September of 2023. Without filling the gap for the crisis our youth are facing, we feel we are not providing them with the wrap-around support that they desperately need.
There is an increasing number of youth across Yellowknife who are not only at risk of or are homelessness, they are also struggling with addiction. In the City of Yellowknife, there is an Adult Street Outreach Program that will pick up at-risk adults and transport them to the safety of a Sobering Center or to their home. This program does not pick up youth. There is no program of this kind for youth in the city. Everyone is concerned about the youth in our city , especially with the cold winter months that are fast approaching. Although we have partners to provide funding for the program, we are seeking support to promote the program in the community. This program would provide:

Transportation: This program would provide a vehicle that would be recognizable in the city that would pick up youth that are under the influence to drive them safely home or to a sobering space. (Vehicle has already been donated)

Safe Sobering Site: We have identified one room in the shelter that will have 4 beds in it and a shared washroom with the second room in the shelter, although the shelter is open from 8pm until non daily for youth ages 12-18, the sobering site will be open to all Home Base supported youth up to age 24 and other community youth up to age 18. The space would be open from noon until 8 am daily with one staff member on site. Support will be provided to staff if needed from the staff working the dorms/shelter.

Outreach and Site Staff: Staff would actively support youth with their immediate needs and would also give them guidance in reuniting with family or finding other housing options. Staff would also connect youth to other supports within Home Base Programs or within the city.

Who Will it Benefit?

Most importantly, youth experiencing homelessness and/or addiction will benefit from this program. Youth under the age of 19 do not have any type of street outreach program or sobering space in the city. Our RCMP services, Emergency Room services, schools and the community in general will benefit from the program as there is currently no program of its type.