GNWT still ‘working with’ final YK encampment residents

Work has begun to renovate Aspen Apartments to prepare it for public housing tenants in Yellowknife.

Arcan Construction, which placed a successful $3.39-million bid for the contract, has erected fencing around the 36-unit vacant apartment complex and its parking lot, save for the area where a tent encampment is located.

Aspen Apartments and the neighbouring encampment have been the focus of attention for months, an example of how levels of government are struggling to address the increasing need for adequate shelter and other supports.

The NWT government previously told residents of the encampment they would have to vacate the site by mid-September as renovations were set to begin on September 16.

While a tender for the work was issued on August 16, the closing date was pushed back from September 13 to 20. The work was awarded to Arcan on September 27.

In an update to Cabin Radio late last week, Housing NWT said work under way at Aspen Apartments includes fire alarm, sprinkler system and ventilation modernization as well as construction of a new biomass heat plant.

The housing corporation said the project is proceeding according to the requirements of federal funding and remains on schedule.

Housing NWT said Arcan had fenced off areas needed to complete that work while the NWT government “continues to work with the final encampment participants.”

GNWT working to increase shelter options

Cabin Radio requested an interview with a representative from the Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs, which has a unit dedicated to homelessness, about the encampment and efforts to address the shortage of shelter spaces in Yellowknife.

The department instead issued a written statement asserting that the GNWT is “awaiting funding approval to implement temporary measures aimed at addressing the increased demand for shelter services in Yellowknife.”

One of those measures includes development of a temporary on-the-land camp, as first reported by the CBC.

The department said some vulnerable and unhoused people have expressed a desire to spend time on the land and the camp will be open to people who can abstain from drugs and alcohol and are ready for that option.

The department added the Salvation Army has also expanded capacity at its overnight shelter, while the territorial government is planning to establish a temporary supportive housing program by December and will assess its long-term feasibility.

“While shelters provide crucial services, they do not offer the stability needed for individuals to plan for the future and address the root causes of homelessness,” the department stated.

“Supportive housing, a transitional housing model, bridges this gap by offering residents their own space, meals, and access to services without the need to leave during the day.”

Society calls for variety of programs

Yellowknife Women’s Society executive director Renee Sanderson penned a letter last week about the challenges people can face accessing transitional housing.

Sanderson called for a variety of housing programs, including expanding the supportive living model at Spruce Bough – an existing facility – and adding permanent housing that blends group and independent living with wraparound services.

“When it comes to addressing the housing crisis, we’re rarely asked for input, and when we are, it often feels dismissed,” she wrote.

“Many individuals are not yet ready for the responsibilities that come with their own unit; what they need is a safe space to sleep, surrounded by a supportive community and a harm reduction approach – without time limits on their stay.”

Correction: October 31, 2024 – 9:54 MT. This story initially stated a tender for the Aspen project was issued on September 16. In fact, the tender was issued on August 16 and closed on September 20.