Whitehorse homeless outreach program offers free boots for dogs

A Whitehorse program that helps thehomeless is offering something new: boots for dogs.

Megan Grudeski is coordinator of the outreach van program. The mobile program based out of a Ford Econolinecamper helps homeless people six nights a week. The van provides essentials like food, clothing, and something less quantifiable: simple human concern, conversation and contact.

It can also refer people to counselling and medical care within Whitehorse.

• VIDEO: Take a tour of the outreach vanin this story from CBCNorthbeat (runs: 1:46)

Grudeski says many of her clients have dogs. Agenerous contribution by a volunteer will help those animals through the Yukon winter.

"We recently had a volunteer who donated a bunch of dog booties.So now we're able to provide not only footwear for people but also for four-legged people, family members," she says with a laugh.

We have quite a few clients that have pets, and are out and about with them-Meg Grudeski

"We have quite a few clients that have pets, and are out and about with them, and that is definitely something we want to be able to keep paws protected from the cold as much as hands and feet."

Grudeski says the outreach van program helps build trust between service providers and vulnerable people.

The van also distributes pet food and snacks in addition to things likecondoms and "harm reduction" materials clean needles and pipes to reduce the potential harms of drug use.

The outreach van was distributing supplies onWednesday, where some of Whitehorse's homelesswere gathered at the Old Fire Hall.

Aprogram called Whitehorse Connects organized by the Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalitionprovidedmeals, haircuts, foot care, and access to services such as blood pressure testing.

Outside the door, a dog named Benson patiently waited,wearing a new pair ofboots.