September 23, 2014
Manitoba Government, City of Winnipeg Support Expansion of Drop-in Centre for Youth
– – –Expanded Hours, Services to Offer Safe Haven for Youth at Risk of Being Exploited: Minister Irvin-Ross, Mayor Katz
Youth at risk of being exploited will soon have expanded access to a drop-in centre at Ndinawemaaganag Endaawaad Inc. (Ndinawe), with combined provincial and City of Winnipeg support of $300,000, Family Services Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross and Mayor Sam Katz announced today.
“The first step in helping vulnerable youth is to ensure they have a safe haven away from the streets where they can talk to adults they trust and get the assistance they need to start rebuilding their lives,” said Minister Irvin-Ross. “By expanding its hours of operation, Ndinawe will be that safe haven when youth have nowhere else to go.”
Ndinawe is expanding the hours of its Youth Resource Centre to 24 hours on weekends, school in-service days and summer breaks, as a pilot project. Based on an established model utilized by Rossbrook House, Ndinawe Youth Resource Centre will act as a place of safety and support during times where needs are high and resources are often limited.
“Since becoming mayor, I have come to realize that there is a need for a 24-hour drop-in centre for youth during the vulnerable hours in the middle of the night and when school is out,” said Mayor Katz. “That is why I am so pleased to partner with the Province of Manitoba and Ndinawe Inc. to make this 24-hour weekend and holiday drop-in centre pilot project a reality for our community, as a first step towards a full-time, 24-hour centre in the future.”
“With this support from the Province of Manitoba and City of Winnipeg, we are pleased to be taking steps to improve safety for vulnerable youth by providing increased access to our Youth Resource Centre,” said Tammy Christensen, executive director, Ndinawemaaganag Endaawaad Inc.
Ndinawe provides a wide range of integrated programs and supportive services aimed addressing the challenges and improving the cultural, social, economic and personal prospects for urban youth.
A Sexually Exploited Youth Community Coalition has grown to over 50 organizations and has been working together to address contributing factors, root causes and protection of at risk youth. In December 2013, Ndinawe, in collaboration with the coalition, began a series of community consultations on the need for additional hours for its drop-in centre, to increase safety among vulnerable youth.
In addition to this initiative, progress continues to be made through Tracia’s Trust: Manitoba’s Sexual Exploitation Strategy, which has actively addressed the issue through awareness, prevention and intervention initiatives, said Minister Irvin-Ross. With an annual budget of more than $10 million, this initiative included the creation of a Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking Act, the designation of two specialized Crown attorneys to co-ordinate and prosecute sexual exploitation cases, criminal property forfeiture legislation and an expanded Victims’ Bill of Rights. Tracia’s Trust regional teams have also been established in 12 Manitoba cities and towns to raise awareness and counter local sexual exploitation, the minister said.
More information on Tracia’s Trust: Manitoba’s Sexual Exploitation Strategy is available at www.gov.mb.ca/fs/traciastrust/index.html.
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