Moccasin Mobile Outreach van to address service gap.
The Council of Yukon First Nations is getting ready to launch its downtown mobile outreach service on February 1.
In a media release Thursday afternoon, CYFN announced that the Moccasin Mobile Outreach van would launch formally next week with the intent to reduce barriers for vulnerable individuals by meeting them where and when they need support.
The release says that the service hours will address a gap in services, operating Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 8pm to 2am, making stops at locations like Safe at Home, Blood Ties Four Directions Centre’s supervised consumption site, and the Whitehorse Emergency Shelter.
The outreach initiative was originally announced in October, saying that the Government of Yukon would fund the pilot project through March 31, contributing approximately $300,000.
In Thursday’s release, CYFN also announced that it had begun providing hot meals to Indigenous families to help decentralize food services from 405 Alexander. This food program is available Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 5:30 to 7:30pm at the CYFN Family Preservation Programming building at suite 130, 205 Black Street. CYFN Grand Chief Peter Johnston says that both Moccasin Mobile Outreach and the food program will enhance the safety and well-being of vulnerable individuals in downtown Whitehorse.