Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions will focus to the Minister of housing, responsible for homelessness. Mr. Speaker, in short, citizens are not feeling safe in the community, and they're very frustrated. They have to worry about damaged property, things being stolen, and certainly their personal safety when they walk by or near these types of encampments.
Mr. Speaker, the question really boils down to is with room at the shelters that provide services and support to these types of people in these challenges, what supports is the NWT Housing Corporation providing directly to these encampments? And if the Minister would help illuminate this House with the specifics of the types of supports they're directly supplying the encampments. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, thank you to the Member for the question. In terms of supports for the encampments, Housing NWT does not provide any material supports at this time. We do provide counselling advice, supports, and also discussions with the encampment folks, offering them to move over to the shelters, working with our shelter operators. So there's ongoing discussions but in terms of supports, Housing NWT does not provide those supports at this time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given that there is room at the shelters -- okay, that's important -- and there's a real public concern around this particular issue, why is the government not working to clean up these shelters -- or sorry, these encampments and move folks to the shelters given that we have a vacancy at -- safe space at the shelters? And the point, ultimately, is people are concerned about the spaces when the government is demonstrating inaction. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The government is not -- is providing action, not not demonstrating action. I find that statement not true. And I just want to be clear that Housing NWT is leading with homelessness, the homelessness file, the encampments. And it's a very difficult file, Mr. Speaker, and we can't force people to move into shelters. They're welcome to encamp or camp on Commissioner's land, and we provide that support and advice. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister responsible for Housing NWT. Final supplementary. Member from Yellowknife Centre.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this government could do something with respect to the encampments and, again, given that there's space at the shelters.
Mr. Speaker, the long one sentence is the government needs to stop straddling the fence on this particular issue; therefore, would the government help take back the streets by exercising actual action in cleaning up these encampment spaces, which there are a multitude, and would the government finally make a decision to get behind this initiative? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Housing NWT is a social agency so we provide social supports, especially to those that are living in encampments or living in shelters. This issue is more of an enforcement issue so I suggest the question go to the City of Yellowknife, the RCMP, or any other criminal agency. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister responsible for Housing NWT. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife North.
