A number of people weighing in on CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 National Housing Strategy are giving the federal government a pat on the back for acknowledging the NorthSA国际影视传媒檚 unique housing needs.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau released the long-awaited document Wednesday in Toronto with the help of federal minister Jean-Yves Duclos in Vancouver.

The 10-year, $40-billion strategy aims to increase CanadiansSA国际影视传媒� access to affordable housing by cutting homelessness in half over the next decade and creating thousands of new housing units, among other ambitious goals.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 great to see the federal government stepping up to the plate and providing long-term funding and taking a huge interest in trying to rectify the housing needs across the country SA国际影视传媒� particularly here in the North,SA国际影视传媒� said Tom Williams, president and CEO of the NWT Housing Corporation. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e very optimistic that this new National Housing Strategy will meet the needs of Northerners.SA国际影视传媒�

While the 40-page document is more a blueprint than a detailed outline of how money will trickle down to individual communities, it specifically recognizes higher housing needs and costs exist in the North.

ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 also acknowledgment of how Indigenous residents and women are affected by housing issues.

The feds thus committed to spending 25 per cent of investments from the strategy on women, girls and their families.

SA国际影视传媒淲omen make seem to make up a disproportionate share of people who are low-income or are trying to house themselves and their children,SA国际影视传媒� said Lyda Fuller, executive director of the YWCA NWT.

She said she was SA国际影视传媒渟uper excitedSA国际影视传媒� to see the strategy included commitments the YWCA has been asking for for years, as well as a promise to build and renew shelter spaces for women fleeing violence.

Two of the four womenSA国际影视传媒檚 shelters outside Yellowknife are looking for new buildings, Fuller said.

The document also states the feds will allocate $300 million for Northern housing over the next 10 years SA国际影视传媒� a figure announced earlier this year when the federal government released its 2017 budget.

The NWT received $36 million from that pot.

NWT Housing Minister Caroline Cochrane later expressed confusion over the relatively low figure, compared to the $240 million handed to Nunavut, which has similar needs.

After a meeting with her federal counterpart in June, she told Yellowknifer the government had promised more funding would be coming down the pipe and that the NWT would be considered for it.

Williams explained there are SA国际影视传媒渙ther pots of fundingSA国际影视传媒� the NWT could tap into through the National Housing Strategy.

SA国际影视传媒淏ut the devilSA国际影视传媒檚 in the details,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e still waiting for how the allocationSA国际影视传媒檚 going to work.SA国际影视传媒�

NWT MP Michael McLeod agreed.

SA国际影视传媒淪ome of the initiatives have already been announced,SA国际影视传媒� said McLeod, referring to the $300 million. SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 a number of other ones that are still being discussed SA国际影视传媒� and of course weSA国际影视传媒檙e all patiently waiting to see what theySA国际影视传媒檒l result in, in terms of dollar amounts when the budget is announced in March.SA国际影视传媒�

But he was pleased the strategy included women and families, and acknowledged the unique needs in the North.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a good start. We still have a lot of work to do,SA国际影视传媒� said McLeod, citing a need for more detail around community housing, Indigenous peoples and seniors.

The only thing missing now is a 10-year housing strategy from the GNWT, according to one expert.

Nick Falvo, director of research and data at the Calgary Homeless Foundation, who also worked on YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 10-year homelessness strategy, said the national document released this week has potential to SA国际影视传媒渃omplimentSA国际影视传媒� the citySA国际影视传媒檚 commitments.

SA国际影视传媒淚f the territorial government doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 match, it could be that the dollars donSA国际影视传媒檛 get spent,SA国际影视传媒� said Falvo. SA国际影视传媒淣ow that depends. Those details havenSA国际影视传媒檛 been discussed.SA国际影视传媒�

But Williams says the GNWT is making strides to develop its own strategy and is working with the city on housing issues.

SA国际影视传媒淥ne of the commitments under the mandate is to review all our homelessness programs and our strategies,SA国际影视传媒� said Williams. SA国际影视传媒淪o there will be a strategy coming.SA国际影视传媒�