An aspiring tenant whoSA国际影视传媒檚 experienced short-term homelessness can face a few barriers to accessing housing SA国际影视传媒� arrears, a poor rental history and credit score.

The Next Step Rapid Rehousing program, introduced by the Yellowknife Women's Society recently, aims to address that. The society says it is a risk free method for landlords to offer housing to tenants whoSA国际影视传媒檝e experienced short-term or transitional homelessness.

The initiative is an expansion of the Housing First program run by the women's society and provides an opening for clients SA国际影视传媒渢o prove themselves as good tenants,SA国际影视传媒� executive director of the Yellowknife Women's Society Bree Denning said.

SA国际影视传媒淧eople experiencing homelessness, many times, are extremely good tenants because theySA国际影视传媒檙e very happy to be in a home again,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

To accommodate these tenants, the program aims to limit risk for the landlord: If there are damages or unpaid rents, the program covers the cost and absorbs the risk.

It also provides support to the clients for the first six to 12 months, ensuring they have what they need to be housed independently.

Only a few months-old, the program has serviced six individuals so far. It was originally designed to alleviate the Housing First wait list, which includes over 150 people, some of whom face years of waiting. If someone on the list is assessed as more vulnerable, theySA国际影视传媒檒l receive priority.

SA国际影视传媒淣ot only are they probably never going to be accepted into the Housing First program, because thereSA国际影视传媒檚 so many people ahead of them, (and) because the selection is based off vulnerability," Denning said of the many clients assessed as less vulnerable. "But they also, probably donSA国际影视传媒檛 need that level of support.SA国际影视传媒�

While there are more than 150 on the organizationSA国际影视传媒檚 wait list, a 2018 City of Yellowknife survey reported that there were about 338 people experiencing homelessness in the city. Of those, 95 per cent reported wanting permanent housing.

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 a massive number of individuals experiencing homelessness in Yellowknife. And there are units available here and there,SA国际影视传媒� Denning said. SA国际影视传媒淭he job is to address the barriers between those clients and those units.SA国际影视传媒�

Costs can be significant. A $1,500 or $1,600 per-month apartment, for example, can often be unaffordable for a single working tenant, Denning said. In Yellowknife, the average rent is $1,613, according to , which was developed by housing advocacy group BC Non-Profit Housing Association.

That database also reports that roughly 23 per cent of residents spend more than a third of their income on housing and eight per cent spend more than half. In 2018, the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation reported that 2,500 Yellowknifers cannot affordably secure market rental housing.

For Housing First, it's difficult to service its entire wait list and as a result, some clients express frustration with the long delay.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 fair criticism because itSA国际影视传媒檚 from people experiencing homelessness,SA国际影视传媒� said Denning. SA国际影视传媒淭he criticism that weSA国际影视传媒檝e received is that weSA国际影视传媒檙e not taking people fast enough, that theySA国际影视传媒檝e been waiting on a wait list for years.SA国际影视传媒�

To adjust, the organization is aiming to double its capacity, bringing the total to 40 clients, once Rapid Rehousing is fully functional. However, itSA国际影视传媒檚 slow going: intake can be time- consuming and the organization also has to find affordable units in a limited market.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 really difficult and complex to get people the services they need. Housing is a start, but (someone) needs other services to stabilize,SA国际影视传媒� said Denning. She explained that clients may face trauma as the result of the legacy of residential school and may be experiencing symptoms like mental health challenges and addictions.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e trying, but the message isnSA国际影视传媒檛 to individuals experiencing homelessness. The message is to people who are deciding where funding goes and making resources available for these programs,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

SA国际影视传媒淭hat message is, there are a lot of people in need.SA国际影视传媒�