The Citizen Outreach Program is available to provide Nisga’a citizen supports that include:
- Addressing the impacts of the COVID-19 among Nisga’a citizens experiencing, or at risk of homelessness, and to provide additional support during this period;
- Taking active measures to limit the risk of contracting COVID-19 among Nisga’a citizens experiencing homelessness, and the staff and volunteers who work with them;
- Supporting a whole community, coordinated response (e.g. local Indigenous housing societies, local public health authorities, municipal emergency management, shelters, and service providers for indigenous peoples and women fleeing violence) that compliments and does not duplicate existing programming; and
- Ensuring program support and services are culturally relevant for Nisga’a citizens that are proven to support identity, well-being, and long-term health.
The Outreach Program provides the following services within the limits of NTVS available resources (human, financial, other). This includes, but is not limited to services and financial support for:
- Securing additional accommodation to reduce overcrowding in shelters;
- Securing sufficient accommodation to quarantine individuals infected;
- Purchasing beds and protection equipment in newly developed facilities;
- Short-term financial assistance (e.g. rent arrears and utility deposits);
- In-kind support, basic needs services (food security, voucher, grocery card, delivery of food, laundry and showers, personal hygiene products, basic cell phone costs, e.g. $55/mth);
- Health and medical services/traditional teaching and medicine (including counselling, addictions support or hiring of health care professional);
- Supplies & materials (to reduce the risk of transmission: cleaning equipment and cleaning/sanitizing supplies, personal protection equipment, client care package, or homelessness response kits); and
- Transportation support (via taxi or NTVS owned vehicle).
All Nisga’a citizens who wish to apply for outreach support must apply directly. An advocate may support the applicant to apply for services and support however to protect the personal information of clients the NTVS will not release a client’s personal information without having the client provide an approved emergency or advocate contact.
All applicants must have exhausted and disclosed all services or supports provided to them to ensure that any identified gaps are met, there is no duplication of services, and referrals for any known additional supports can be provided to maximize the health and well-being of Nisga’a citizens.