LynnSA国际影视传媒檚 Place, the YWCA-run transitional housing facility downtown, may see an expansion as the YWCA seeks to construct a new building that would more than double the facilitySA国际影视传媒檚 capacity.
Hawa Dumbuya-Sesay, executive director of YWCA NWT, submitted an application for funding in late December after an announcement from the federal government calling for housing project proposals.
She said she should know whether it has been approved by the end of the month.
As it stands, LynnSA国际影视传媒檚 Place offers 18 units for women and children in need of safe housing. Rent SA国际影视传媒� $900 per month for a single unit, $1,580 for a two-bedroom and $1,750 for a three-bedroom unit SA国际影视传媒� is set using the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) affordability guidelines. Tenants can benefit from the facility for up to three years.
The new building would make available an additional 21 units to house women, children and spouses.
LynnSA国际影视传媒檚 Place is staffed with support workers who help clients with employment applications and in securing income support. Employees run cultural programs such as sewing circles, cooking programs, literacy activities and life skill workshops. Tenants also have access to counselling services.
If approved, Dumbuya-Sesay said the organization will have 12 months to construct the new space.
SA国际影视传媒淥ne of the biggest issues that we continue to address is the need for housing for families,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淏eing able to build a structure like that would reduce some of the demand and help take people off waitlists.SA国际影视传媒�
Julie Green, MLA for Yellowknife Centre, expressed her support for the project in a letter to the federal government last month.
SA国际影视传媒淲e know that there are long waiting lists for affordable housing throughout Yellowknife,SA国际影视传媒� Green told SA国际影视传媒. SA国际影视传媒淚f youSA国际影视传媒檙e not on a waiting list, youSA国际影视传媒檙e paying market rent, which is steep for someone who is low-income.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淭he prospect of an additional 21 units is very promising,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 am hoping that they are successful.SA国际影视传媒�
Green admits that in the scope of how many people are on waitlists for low-income housing, the 21 units SA国际影视传媒渄oesnSA国际影视传媒檛 represent a large amount.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淟ess than 10 per cent,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
However, YWCA clients who may be seeking housing to leave an abusive relationship, for example, SA国际影视传媒渋s not necessarily the same as someone on a low-income housing waitlist,SA国际影视传媒� Green said. In that sense, the new space is SA国际影视传媒渢argeting people who need supports,SA国际影视传媒� and SA国际影视传媒渘ot an apples to apples comparison.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淎ny number of additional units is helpful,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
On Jan. 18, the YWCA NWT sent out a press release stating that family and child homelessness is SA国际影视传媒渁t crisis levels.SA国际影视传媒�
In it, Dumbuya-Sesay said the organization is launching a campaign over the next several weeks to raise awareness about family homelessness in the NWT.
SA国际影视传媒淭he primary cause of homelessness is a lack of affordable housing and the key to addressing homelessness is to give homeless families an affordable place to live,SA国际影视传媒� Dumbuya-Sesay said. SA国际影视传媒淒uring the Covid-19 pandemic, shelters were created for homeless individuals to isolate but there were no options for families who did not have suitable housing to self-isolate or maintain social distancing.SA国际影视传媒�
In Yellowknife alone the YWCA fields weekly housing inquiries and has a waitlist with more than 50 families.
In the coming year, Dumbuya-Sesay expects the issue will worsen as pandemic-related job losses and evictions continue.
SA国际影视传媒淎lthough we are doing everything we can, itSA国际影视传媒檚 not enough,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲e need to work together, strengthen our partnerships and encourage investment that will help ensure the most vulnerable people in our community have a safe place to live which is the care, compassion and basic human needs that NWT residents and families deserve.SA国际影视传媒�
