What will Yellowknife’s new transitional housing facility be like?

The NWT government has reached the point of seeking an operator for its new transitional housing project near Yellowknife’s airport.

Last Friday, the GNWT issued a request for proposals to deliver programming and other supports for residents of the planned facility beginning this fall.

The bidding window for that contract closes on September 29 with an anticipated term of October 15, 2025 to March 31, 2027, which could be extended for up to one year.

The request for proposals anticipates the transitional housing facility will begin accepting residents between November 10-17 this year and ramp up to full capacity by November 30.

The NWT government first announced the initiative in May, saying it planned to create a transitional housing facility for up to 25 people to “bridge the gap between homelessness and longer-term housing.” The territory has signed a three-year lease for a piece of land otherwise used as a parking lot by Folk on the Rocks, an annual music festival.

The GNWT has said it will work with organizations that use the site, such as Folk on the Rocks and Yellowknife Pride, to ensure they have continued access to nearby recreational spaces “wherever possible.”

The City of Yellowknife said the site is located within a “special reserve designation” for the airport and is under the jurisdiction of the NWT government, so a municipal permit is not required for development.

Construction contract awarded

In a recent update to Cabin Radio, Housing NWT president and chief executive officer Erin Kelly said a contract to build a temporary structure at the site was awarded last week.

The closing date for that bidding process was slightly delayed from June 24 to July 15, as first reported by the CBC.

Documents indicate the facility will be made up of modular units with single rooms and shared bathrooms, laundry facilities and a common area for residents, as well as office space for staff.

Two businesses bid on the project: Paul Bros Nextreme Inc and T’sa Corporation.

In an email to Cabin Radio following publication of this story, Housing NWT said Paul Bros Nextreme – a custom manufacturing, steel construction and welding company based in Yellowknife – was awarded the bid with a contract value of $4,987,5000. It said that includes design, permitting, transportation, installation, servicing and ongoing leasing over three years.

Case management, security and transportation

Now the territory is looking for someone to oversee the planned facility.

The request for proposals for that contract seeks an operator to provide case management services that “improve stability, increase life skills and allow residents to engage in employment and social integration.”

The territory also wants the operator to provide security, meals, custodial and laundry services, as well as computer, phone and internet access, among other supports for residents.

Transportation is requested to ensure residents can access appointments, other community services and employment, given the facility’s distance from pedestrian areas of Yellowknife and public transit.

The request for proposals stipulates that on-site supports must incorporate cultural safety, trauma-informed care and community-led approaches.

A successful operator will further be required to regularly collect rent and support residents with income assistance reporting and financial management. They must report to the NWT government about the project quarterly, including details regarding occupancy, turnover, programming, challenges and any critical incidents.

The budget for operations is listed in the range of $1.5 million to $2.5 million per fiscal year.

Increase in unsheltered homelessness

In its request for proposals, the GNWT said the transitional housing facility is intended for “low-acuity individuals” who are able to live independently with minimal supports but cannot directly enter independent housing.

The territory said the project is its response to “a significant increase in unsheltered homelessness” in the NWT over the past four years, describing “a notable increase” in people living in camps and informal encampments in Yellowknife in 2024, with 30 to 60 more people experiencing homelessness than there were shelter beds in the city.

The territory attributed that increase to the Covid-19 pandemic, wildfire evacuations, substance use and enforcement activities that have resulted in evictions and reduced access to informal housing arrangements, such as staying with friends.

The GNWT said it aims for the new facility to offer people experiencing homelessness the “opportunity to stabilize, build life skills, explore recovery, education and employment options, and eventually transition into stable housing.”

Ollie Williams contributed reporting.