A temporary shelter will provide 10 emergency shelter beds seven nights a week at the former St. Elias group home on Fifth Avenue until April 30.

Kwanlin Dün First Nation (KDFN) Chief Doris Bill made the announcement this morning at the First Nation’s administration building in McIntyre.

She highlighted the need for a more long-term solution to house the city’s most vulnerable residents.

“We know this is not a permanent solution,” she said.

She stressed that as work on a homelessness action plan continues, as does construction on the new Salvation Army emergency shelter, a temporary measure is needed, particularly in the colder weather.

The new Salvation Army shelter on Fourth Avenue will increase its number of emergency beds from 14 to 25.

The Yukon government is contributing the St. Elias building and $90,000 to the effort.

The KDFN’s elders emergency fund is kicking in another $5,000, while the First Nation operates the facility.

As Health and Social Services Minister Pauline Frost said in a statement: “The opening of this alternative temporary emergency shelter will help address the safety of some of our most vulnerable individuals who have no place to go during these cold winter nights.

“I am encouraged by how all the partners have come together to support this initiative. The community, the First Nation, the businesses – it is heartwarming to see how we can all respond to care for those in need.”

Christina Sim, KDFN’s manager of outreach and health promotion, said 16 staff will work shifts at the facility, which will operate from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. every night with three staff working each shift.

Drinks and snacks will also be provided to those coming into the shelter.

The First Nation is aiming to have the emergency shelter open Friday, depending on staff availability, with beds provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

Bill said talk about an interim measure to make beds available began before Christmas, as it was getting colder.

The territorial election caused some delay in the efforts, but Bill said once the new government was up to speed on the issue, there was quick movement on finding temporary beds.

She noted other shelters in the city are often short on beds for those seeking a place to stay – there are some who end up sleeping inside local businesses such as banks, where there is an access open to bank machines or in unsafe situations in an effort to stay out of the cold.

“We knew we had to do something,” Bill said.

While the temporary shelter gets set to open, long-term efforts to address homelessness will also continue.

Bill noted the First Nation is working to make its land available for such efforts, and is awaiting the signature of the federal government on its land registry.

She also noted she has spoken with the federal minister about the need to deal with the issue in the territory.

She said she hopes to have another meeting in the coming month with the minister.

Work on the homelessness action plan is also continuing with stakeholder consultation.

Bill noted her thanks to all those that have been involved with the vulnerable people at risk initiative and the working group on homelessness.