Temporary Housing |
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Homelessness: the scope of the problem
A thousand women in the Northwest Territories are homeless, according to a landmark study published in November 2007. YWCA Yellowknife was one of four northern women's organizations which sponsored this report. Professional researchers found some women are absolutely homeless in the sense that they live in emergency shelters, tents and vehicles. More women experience hidden homelessness where they stay temporarily with friends or family or "with a partner only in order to obtain shelter." The report titled "You Just Blink and it Can Happen," concludes that "all women in the north are at risk of homelessness because just a small change in their circumstances can jeopardize the fragile structure of their lives that allows them to meet their needs."
YWCA's Transitional and Emergency Housing Programs
YWCA Yellowknife has been providing transitional and emergency housing at the Rockhill apartment complex since 1997. Our 39-suite building provides temporary housing for up to 12 months. Support staff help clients work on the issues that destabilize them.
Rent:
Tenants pay rent - $1150 per month for a one-bedroom suite, $1350 per month for a two-bedroom suite. Some clients have their rent subsidized by income support, while others are working and yet have trouble making ends meet. Suites are at least partially furnished with donations from the community. Tenants cantake the furniture when they leave.
Eligibility:
Our tenants are diverse - single mothers with children, couples with children,and single fathers with children. They may come originally from Yellowknife, any of the small communities in the Northwest Territories or from western Nunavut. They may be teenagers; they may be grandmothers. Our housing staff meets with potential clients to discuss their eligibility to apply. In February 2010, we had a waiting list of 25 families.
Staff:
It is our support staff who makes the transitional housing program unique. They help tenants every step of the way as they move from dependence to building the capacity to become independent. Staff helps tenants overcome barriers to develop good tenancy records. They help people work on the issues that have destabilized their housing in the past such as addictions and family violence. They teach life skills, literacy, cooking and parenting. Support workers make a difference, every day.
Clothing exchange:
The clothing exchange is open Wednesdays from 1 to 2:30 to tenants and anyone who is need. We welcome donations of clothing for all ages. It should be clean and in good condition. We also welcome donations of household goods such as sheets and towels, and furniture. All items must be in good condition. Please do NOT bring large appliances (stove, fridge, freezer, washer, dryer, dishwasher).
For more information, contact Kate Wilson at kate@ywcanwt.ca
http://ywcanwt.ca/doc/Housing_Program_Application.doc
YWCA's Emergency Housing Program at Rockhill:
Five units are available for families who would otherwise be homeless. Tenants in these units do not pay rent, and they can stay for up to three months. Staff provides support for families to address the issues that brought families into emergency housing. As well, staff helps tenants build up a damage deposit or develop re-payment plans where rent is owed elsewhere. Some tenants require more time in our transitional housing programs to better support their efforts at independence. Others move directly into public housing or private market housing.