A partnership between Housing NWT and the Fort Smith Métis Council is bringing a new social housing duplex to Fort Smith while building capacity in the local construction sector and providing business opportunities for local contractors.

Housing NWT and the Fort Smith Métis Council have partnered to deliver the duplex while building local capacity in residential construction. This approach supports the Government of the Northwest Territories’ commitment to housing renewal while building local workforce capacity and strengthening partnerships with Indigenous governments, community governments, and industry.

The duplex is being built on site in Fort Smith. Local sub-contractor Blades Construction has supported construction on the foundation and framing, which is now complete. Construction will continue through the summer building season.

Early in the development process, Housing NWT engaged with representatives from Fort Smith Métis Council, the Town of Fort Smith, and local First Nations. Inputs from these discussions informed key decisions related to the project’s design, location and construction approach.

The final design is a single-level, two-bedroom duplex that will provide safe, accessible and energy-efficient housing for residents.

This is part of the GNWT’s ongoing work to repair and replace aging social housing units across the territory, helping address deferred maintenance and improve residents’ access to adequate housing.

The duplex is being delivered as part of a Housing NWT multi-year capital plan with construction occurring across the NWT.

Quote

“This project demonstrates our clear commitment to improving housing supply while supporting local NWT workers and businesses. Through our building partnership with the Fort Smith Métis Council, we are strengthening local capacity and delivering homes for Northerners. This work helps meet the needs of residents today while supporting skills and businesses that will contribute to a prosperous future for communities across the territory.”

- Lucy Kuptana, Minister Responsible for Housing Northwest Territories

Quick facts

• Housing NWT maintains a fairly large inventory of homes in Fort Smith, including 146 social housing units. As of December 2025, eight units were vacant in need of major repair.
• Approximately 11.5% of the town’s 2,484 residents live in social housing, 34.7% of whom are youth aged 18 and under.
• As of May 15, 2026, there were 20 households on the waitlist for social housing in the community, including 12 applicants for single-unit housing.

Related links

• NWT Territorial Housing Needs Assessment

For media requests, please contact:
Laura Busch, Manager, Communications  
Housing NWT
Government of the Northwest Territories
NWTHC_comms@gov.nt.ca