Angels Nest Rally September 11th

Hello, I’m Dave Blottner and this is the Word on the Street Youth Blog. The purpose of this blog is to give youth a voice that will ask the questions and find the news and information that is important and directly affects them. Our first issue (as will likely be many of our issues) is about youth homelessness and our need for a youth shelter here in Whitehorse.

At approximately 4pm on September 11^th the first group of young people wandered up towards the Yukon legislative building, they carried homemade signs and walked with a sense of purpose. Within moments friends, acquaintances, and strangers began to join them with more signs. A truck pulled up with speakers and music and more vehicles parked, now instead of young people it was politicians and community members all coming to have their voice heard and to make their disappointment known.

The signs were all different sizes and colours but they all carried similar messages “Fenties Government Wasted 36m In Faulty Investments But Won’t Shell Out For A Youth Shelter” “I’m not against the Government… I’m For Youth”. I have to admit I quickly felt overwhelmed as about 40 people crowded the sidewalks and began shouting and encouraging cars to honk in support. I quickly shook off the feeling and went about my job speaking with the protesters.

Now due to some technical issues our recordings won’t be able to be posted until next week. So in the mean time here is the low down of what the speakers had to say. First up was Todd Hardy Leader of the NDP Party, he was very much in support of the project and said the Yukon Party was pitting us against each other (referring to the Youth Emergency Shelter Program that they extended through the winter). Arthur Mitchell Leader of the Liberal Party took the stage next. The Honourable Member spoke about how there was no excuse for these delays anymore, this government has the money but lacks the will. He was followed by our MP Larry Bagnell and Green Party Candidate John Streicker with congratulatory comments for the youth and for Vicki Durrant who had fought so hard for so long. After all this a few concerned parents and citizens took the stage speaking from the heart about how important a youth shelter is to Whitehorse. These speeches are pretty interesting and I recommend you all listen to them as soon as they are posted.

todd_hardy

arthur

So what’s the deal here? Why didn’t the government accept a project that had support from 8 different first nations bands, both the NDP and the Liberal Party, our MP, and most of the youth related non profits in town? Well the Yukon News posted a letter in the paper from MLA Glen Heart to Victoria Durrant Executive Director of the Youth of Today Society; the letter essentially said that the government had three main complaints

1) The proposal lacked a “needs analysis”

2) The proposal lacked a “Detailed budget outlining reasons why your proposal is considerably more expensive than existing shelter options.”

3) The proposal lacked “Evidence that the programming you are proposing will be delivered by credentialed staff.”

So what does this mean, can’t we fix these things and try again? Apparently not, in order to get the house that will make it all happen YOTS needed funding by September 1^st. The project looks like his has one more shot before it is completely shut down, but it has to raise a lot of money by October 1^st if they have and chance at all. What does this project mean to the youth? The Angels Nest is a project designed to help youth 18-25, if you’re under 18 they won’t turn you away but they will be calling Family and Children’s Services to look into why you have nowhere to go. If you fall with the age group and need a bit of a leg up (as many of us do from time to time) this project could save your life. Where does that put us now? Is the Yukon Party going to have a change of heart after two protests in two weeks? Well so far I’ve have been unable to reach and members for questions but I’ll keep trying. So here we are, and I bet I know what you’re thinking, what can I do to help? Or this project is total crap! Well either way you should do the same thing, get on the forums at www.yukonyouth.com or send us an email at: yukonwordonthestreet@gmail.com and let us know what you think. Like I said we are here to be your voice, we’ll take your questions to the people who can best answer them. Well for this week, that’s your WORD ON THE STREET.