The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has released a draft Homelessness Strategy, titled A Way Home: A Comprehensive Strategy to Address Homelessness in the Northwest Territories, and is seeking feedback from the public.

Addressing ongoing housing issues across the Northwest Territories (NWT) has been and remains a key mandate priority of the GNWT. While the GNWT currently provides safe housing options for those in need of assistance through shelters and multiple programs, homelessness remains a reality experienced by far too many residents.

To improve the services and programs offered to residents experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of becoming homeless, the GNWT’s draft Homelessness Strategy takes an integrated, interdepartmental, and inter-agency approach to the issue, centered on supporting vulnerable individuals facing complex challenges.

The goals identified in the draft strategy include adopting a whole-of-government approach to the issue, with a unit dedicated to addressing and preventing homelessness. The draft strategy also seeks to set functional zero homelessness goals for all communities, increase the stock of affordable housing, improve access to mental health and addictions services for those experiencing homelessness, and ramp up data collection, sharing, and analysis.

Public engagement is essential to ensuring the draft strategy reflects the needs of the public. Further engagement will take place with Indigenous governments and Indigenous organizations, community governments, and non-governmental organizations.

You can read the draft Homelessness Strategy and provide your input at: https://haveyoursay.nwt-tno.ca/gnwt-homelessness-strategy

Public engagement will be open from March 30 to April 30, 2023.

For media requests, please contact:

Todd Sasaki

Manager, Communications & Public Affairs

Department of Finance

Government of the Northwest Territories

Email: Todd_Sasaki@gov.nt.ca

Phone Number: (867) 767-9168 ext. 15015