The GNWT has committed $445,000 per year to support the operations of the Hay River Homeless Shelter. 

The funding, announced in a Dec. 5 news release, is part of a new partnership between the government and Hay River and Area Metis Local #51, the organization that operates the shelter.

"Keeping with the spirit of truth and reconciliation, the Hay River and Area Metis Local #51 recognize the importance of providing emergency shelter to any Indigenous person and others who find themselves on the street with no where to turn for help," said the organization's president Hollis Dimion. "We see the shelter being a home and those using the facility are treated like family."

Of the yearly total, $370,000 will be drawn from Housing NWT and used for daily shelter operations. The remaining $75,000 will come from the Department of Health and Social Services and will contribute to the shelter's programming. The news release did not specify how long the GNWT's partnership will last.

In addition to the funding, the territorial government revealed that it provided specialized training for shelter staff. The training focused on safety, mental health support and case management. The government remains committed to "reducing homelessness and fostering meaningful partnerships with Indigenous organizations" in hopes of "creating pathways to housing, healing and long-term stability," according to the news release. 

Lucy Kuptana, the minister responsible for Housing NWT, called the newly-announced partnership a demonstration of "the strength of community-led solutions in addressing homelessness."

"By supporting Indigenous leadership and investing in vital services like the Hay River Homeless Shelter, we are fostering strong and resilient communities," Kuptana stated. "This collaboration reflects our commitment to providing essential support for healing and ensuring that everyone in the Northwest Territories has somewhere to turn and can access the support and resources they need."

Metis Local #51 represents the Hay River area's Metis people. The organization took control of the local shelter in October. The facility includes 15 beds, and runs 24 hours a day through the winter months, with reduced hours in the summer.