The Yellowknife Women’s Society says its Housing First clients are being evicted between October and December from buildings operated by Northview and Balto Capital Inc.
The society, also known as YKWS, is asking for support from landlords and housing providers with vacant units or an available building to house 26 evicted tenants.
“We do not want to see the progress of Housing First residents undone because of systemic barriers, discrimination, or a lack of available housing options in Yellowknife. We are asking our community to help us find a solution,” YKWS said in a news release.
The Housing First program “supports chronically homeless adult individuals to access, maintain and retain private market housing,” according to the YKWS website.
YKWS said a recent sale of six apartment buildings to Balto Capital Inc and “a separate eviction from Northview” means YKWS will lose its 23 Housing First units, which housed all of the clients in the program.
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“Where am I going to live now? Winter is coming and I don’t want to go back to living in a tent. I’m really worried about what is going to happen to me,” a Housing First client was quoted as saying by the women’s society, which did not name the person.
Northview and Balto did not reply to requests for comment. Adrian Bell, a representative of property manager Century 21, said he was not authorized to speak on behalf of Balto or provide context about its decision.
Balto now owns Carlton Place, Crestview Manor, Dorset Apartments, Hudson House, Norseman Apartments and Simpson House. In a Facebook post searching for building maintenance technicians, Bell said Balto had “an ambitious schedule of renovations and improvements to units and building envelopes.”
In an email to Cabin Radio, Bell said he was “working hard to find Housing First an alternative option. And not for the first time,” referencing a potential sale of a building to YKWS that “didn’t work out” last year.
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What the society’s hoping for
YKWS said it wants to operate its Housing First program using a “whole-building model” – a building completely rented or owned by YKWS that would offer 24-hour staff on site, guest management, rapid response to crises and ongoing intensive case management.
“This would allow us to better support residents while building positive relationships between residents, neighbours, and the broader community. Most importantly, it would provide the stability, support, and opportunity people need to work toward their own goals,” YKWS said.
While the society’s staff “work tirelessly toward this model,” YKWS said it has assembled a working group with the City of Yellowknife, Housing NWT and funders.
In an emailed statement to Cabin Radio, James Tolley, Housing NWT’s director of homelessness, said the agency’s priority is to support the Housing First clients.
“While the loss of these privately leased units presents challenges, partners are working together to assess each resident’s situation and identify options,” Tolley said.
Tolley said the GNWT provides about $150,000 annually to YKWS for Housing First. The rest is funded by the federal Reaching Home initiative, administered by the City of Yellowknife.
It is Housing NWT’s role to “identify available housing and support options when challenges arise,” Tolley said, but Housing NWT does not have enough vacant social housing units in Yellowknife to replace the ones being lost.
Tolley said the GNWT has set up an interdepartmental working group to support YKWS with resident assessments, transition planning, and finding housing and support options.
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If a landlord provides a unit to a Housing First client, YKWS said, the client and landlord will have 24-hour support to navigate challenges and concerns. Clients will also have rent and damage supports alongside ongoing case management.
The City of Yellowknife did not respond to a request for comment ahead of publication.
YKWS says more than 100 people are on its waitlist for Housing First support, “demonstrating the significant and ongoing need for supportive, low-barrier housing in Yellowknife.”
Clients losing housing may be “forced back into the shelter system,” YKWS added. “It can also disrupt access to healthcare, employment, education, treatment, community connections, and the supports that help people remain housed.”
Another Housing First client quoted in the society’s news release said: “I just started college and I was finally moving forward with my life. Now I’m scared I’m going to lose my housing, drop out of school and lose all the progress I’ve made. I have no family support here and nowhere else to stay.”
