Canada, NWT to build 64-unit housing complex on old Rockhill site

The Government of Canada has announced more than $24 million for new affordable housing in Yellowknife.

Money from the Affordable Housing Fund will support 30 transitional housing units and 10 social housing units for people at risk of homelessness at a planned development at 4900 54 Avenue, officials said on Friday.

That address is the former site of the Rockhill apartment building, which was destroyed by fire in 2018. The new project will also bear the Rockhill name.

Combined with NWT government funding for 24 social housing units, the project is expected to deliver a total of 64 homes.

The building’s 30 units of transitional housing will be private single units, each with its own kitchenette and bathroom. Residents will have access to shared common areas for meals and relaxing, wellness programs and on-site support staff.

There will be 34 social housing units replacing existing units – a mix of bachelor suites and one to four-bedroom apartments. An early learning and childcare centre with space for 24 children will be built next to the social housing units.

Accessible units will be included for people with mobility needs.

“Too many people have been priced out of the market, and too many people are struggling to find safe, decent rental units,” former Yellowknife mayor turned minister of Crown-Indigenous relations Rebecca Alty said during a press conference on Friday.

“Our government recognizes that housing is more than just having a place to live. It’s about dignity, stability and creating opportunities to grow.”

Alty said the Rockhill transitional housing project provides a “fresh start for some of the most vulnerable people in our community” and is part of a long-term plan to address the city’s housing challenges, helping fill the gap left by temporary homeless encampments.

NWT employment minister Caitlin Cleveland said the project will boost job opportunities for residents, ensure children have easy access to quality early learning, and help parents rejoin the workforce or pursue further education.

Housing minister Lucy Kuptana said construction is planned to begin this summer, with completion targeted for 2028.

“We all know the pressure residents across the territory are feeling when it comes to housing,” Kuptana said.

“I see it in the low vacancy rates, in the number of households living in homes that are unaffordable, in the number of homes that need major repairs and the long wait list for public housing.

“These challenges affect families and the health of people and communities, and this is why this project matters.”