The new Outreach Program is now delivering more people to the Sobering Centre than the RCMP.
An average of 10 to 20 people are staying at the Sobering Centre every night. The Centre is also seeing a large increase of female occupants since opening in mid July.
“Even though the Sobering centre is primarily for people who are severely intoxicated, they also have access to referral information,” says Denise McKee, the Executive Director of the Sobering Centre. “The medical services that are provided during their time at the Sobering Centre are extended to the Day Centres. A lot of clients that would no other way be able to access medical attention are getting a lot of preventative care in those settings.”
The Sobering Centre currently resides in the Yellowknife Community Arena until September 13th. The City of Yellowknife and the Department of Health and Social Services are expected make an announcement on a new location soon.
