Yellowknife’s Street Outreach program gave 11,512 rides to vulnerable people in its first year of operations – roughly 30 rides per day.
The City of Yellowknife published statistics on Thursday to acknowledge the program’s year in existence since it was introduced on July 17, 2017.
As of June 30 this year, 768 different people had made use of the service – equating to around 15 rides per person.
Looked at another way, about one in 25 of the city’s population required the street outreach van in the past 12 months.
Advertisement.
Advertisement.
The van is designed, in the City’s words, to provide “safe rides for individuals who are at risk, vulnerable or street involved, and/or are unable to travel safely on their own to shelters, or to their home or the home of a friend or family member willing to take them in.”
The program is run in partnership with the Yellowknife Women’s Society.
“These numbers show us that the Yellowknife Street Outreach program is a vital service in our community,” said Mayor Mark Heyck in prepared remarks.
The City says most people flag down the van themselves for help, but the public can also phone to request non-emergency assistance for people (the number is 867-445-7202).
The top drop-off locations, according to the City’s news release, are community shelters, private homes, and then the sobering centre.
