“I was homeless and struggling so much and ended up in a shelter. I had lots of jobs, I could just never keep them because I didn’t have the skills to keep them so it took a long journey and fortunately I had people to help me through.”
The new transitional housing space is made of modular units assembled on-site to create 24 individual bedrooms, alongside shared spaces including a kitchen, dining area, activity space, laundry facilities and office space.
The housing will accommodate 24 individuals, offering a stable, temporary environment for them to bridge the gap between homelessness and permanent housing. The Yellowknife Women’s Society will operate the building and program.
Arlene Hache, executive director of the Yellowknife Women’s Society, says they are planning to open their doors in less than two weeks.
Gloria Francis, housing director, says the new transitional housing space will be co-ed to bridge an important gap, allowing couples to not have to separate.
In doing so, the new transitional housing space is moving away from a gendered segregation that has conventionally been present in models across the country. Hache says the organization will be formally recreating itself to reflect what the organization does in supporting all genders, including folks who identify as Two Spirit, Trans and non-binary.
Hache says the society is looking to the Northern Mosaic Network to help them along that path to look at how they can better support gender diverse individuals, going into the future.
“We’re hoping to bridge the gap between couples not having places to stay because that’s a huge thing. They want to stay in and camps because they want to be together. So here they’ll have options to have rooms next door to each other,” explained Francis.
Hache acknowledged the work of colleagues. including Marie McGregor Pitawanakwat, who is also a co-chair of the Women’s National Housing Wellness Network. Hache explained that they both share lived experiences of being under-housed and have worked in the field for decades.
Pitawanakwat is working with the Hache and other team members to design a plan so that folks who will stay at the facility work together with the staff to decide not only their personal plan but how the facility will be run.
“How they want to govern that place and manage that place. So, we want to really increase residents voice and role in the services that are provided to them. So, it’s a big undertaking and we’re excited about the possibilities,” said Hache.
Hache says after years of working in this field she is “surprised” and “encouraged” by the level of collaboration between Housing NWT and to Executive Indigenous Affairs to help build and launch the new transitional housing space.
“I don’t often say that about government in a very nice way, but I’ve been away for about 20 years, I come back and I find this government team actually really focused really supportive really ready to move forward in a solid way to make sure that continuum of housing exists so we can move people around and make sure they are where they need to be, or where they are best suited and that’s different,” said Hache.
With the Spruce Bough and Housing First, the new transitional house will give people facing homelessness some options, added Hache.
Hache said while the site will not have a specific focus on healing and culture, those resources will be accessible through the organization’s other programs.
Mental health and addictions supports will also be made available through the organization’s programs at other sites
While some have expressed concerns that the new space is far from the downtown where resources and supports are accessible, including cultural and health supports. Hache said a fully-scheduled transportation routine is in the works with regular transportation routes to the downtown and back.
“This is specifically for people who are transitioning into building routines, developing skills, ready to move on to an education, trades, jobs and employment.”
The transitional housing program at the site is geared towards providing “tools and curriculums” to people to help reach their goals, help them to find “meaningful, jobs, and long-term employment.”
Hache emphasized that having access to cultural supports is important to ensure that people “feel comfortable connected.”
The organization is continuing to build partnerships with other groups, including Keepers of the Circle and Aspire Training to connect folks with access to programs, including cultural programs, Indigenous designed pre-employment programs and job connections, “pathways” to “independence and sustainability.”
Hache has come full circle, having lived through homelessness.
“When I first came to Yellowknife, I was homeless and struggling so much and ended up in a shelter. I had lots of jobs, I could just never keep them because I didn’t have the skills to keep them so it took a long journey and fortunately I had people to help me through,” says Hache.
“So this is why we’re here and people living here they are ready to move on and we will support them 100 per cent to make sure they’re moving along that path. Supports are important so there’’ll be cultural supports. Here we have a wellness team,” continues Hace.
City Mayor Ben Hendriksen reinforced the importance of having a “middle” passage for those facing homelessness, to provide a space for folks to “rebuild and reconnect” with the community before pursuing long term housing.
“Housing and other social investments like this reflect the values we hold as a community – compassion and inclusion and the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to feel safe and supported.”
“The strength of our city is measured by how we collectively support one another. This transitional housing is another important step in that direction,” said Mayor Hendriksen.
The new transitional housing space will help make room in the women’s emergency shelter. In November, Francis said that their shelter has been stretched beyond capacity on some nights since the cold season began.
Housing Minister Lucy Kuptana acknowledged that the current housing options in the territory do not meet the housing demand and for people facing homelessness, that situation is particularly urgent.
“For Northerners, transitional housing is a critical part of the housing continuum, but we know the current options cannot meet the full demand many housing. Many residents need something between emergency shelter and independent housing. This project helps fill that gap. By adding much-needed capacity and providing another option for people who are ready to make the next step. The facility will offer residents privacy, stability and a safe environment to focus on life skills, case management and long-term planning,” said the minister.
Minister Kuptana confirmed that the transitional housing space is meant as a temporary solution as the GNWT seeks more permanent transitional housing opportunities in the city and in the territory.
“It is a temporary site but it responds to an urgent need and gives people an opportunity to move forward with dignity, support and more predictability in their lives. This work fits in the broader effort efforts across government to expand housing options and meet residents where they are. While this site will operate on a temporary basis, we are already looking at a longer term approach to transitional and supportive housing, here in Yellowknife.”
Earlier this spring, Jeanne Gard, who is the communications manager at Housing NWT, explained the project’s aim is to get people out of the shelter system.
“(W)ithout access to a spectrum of housing options, many people become chronically homeless, defined as living in shelters for six months or longer. This is because it is difficult to move from shelters directly to independent housing, due to shortages in housing availability, lack of employment, health or mental health issues, and other barriers that are nearly impossible to address in an emergency shelter environment. Creating more shelter spaces only serves to increase the number of people who may become chronically homeless,” explained Gard.
Some of the supports that will also be offered are housing applications, basic home maintenance and budgeting.
