Check against delivery.

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize the Government of the Northwest Territories’ progress in advancing transitional housing initiatives and improving shelter operations across the North, as guided by A Way Home: A Comprehensive Strategy to Address Homelessness in the Northwest Territories. In recent months, with the support of our partners, we have made meaningful advancements in addressing chronic homelessness in the NWT. I want to reaffirm our dedication to working together to find northern solutions that support and protect our most vulnerable residents.

Increasing transitional and supportive housing across the NWT was identified in A Way Home as a top priority. Enhanced supports and person-centred services give vulnerable residents the opportunity to address past issues, develop life skills and reconnect with their communities, ultimately helping them move toward stable, long‑term housing.

The GNWT and Housing NWT have been collaborating with several partners to bring more transitional and supportive housing to the North.

In December, Housing NWT and the Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs unveiled the new temporary transitional housing facility located on Highway No. 3, adjacent to the Folk on the Rocks site in Yellowknife. This new 24-unit facility provides individuals experiencing homelessness with a supportive step when leaving the emergency shelter system.

The facility is operated by the Yellowknife Women’s Society, offering programming and services for residents such as case management, life skills development and help with employment, income assistance and housing applications. 

For the first time, residents have access to safe transitional housing in Yellowknife, and soon they will also have access in Inuvik after returning from out-of-territory treatment services. Housing NWT and the Department of Health and Social Services have collaborated with the Salvation Army in Yellowknife and the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation in Inuvik to develop a transitional housing model for residents returning from addiction treatment. One five-bedroom home in each community has been renovated to operate as a transitional home for post-addiction recovery programs. These homes offer a safe, substance‑free and supportive environment where residents live as a cohesive unit to focus on maintaining their recovery, rebuilding essential life skills, and working toward long-term stability within their community.

The 2026-2027 budget contains significant proposed increases for the operations of emergency homeless shelters. This increased funding is to ensure the safe and stable operations of this vital network of emergency shelters. This will allow organizations to attract and retain staff and ensure that they are adequately funded to address inflationary costs.

It was recently announced that, in Spring 2026, Housing NWT will assume operational responsibility for the Yellowknife Day Shelter and Sobering Centre, which are currently managed by Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority. With a designated operational lead in Housing NWT, services will align across all shelters, supporting the GNWT’s efforts to deliver a unified and coordinated approach to homelessness across the territory.

In 2021, Housing NWT began operating the Inuvik Homeless Shelter when no local operator was available. During this time, the GNWT increased shelter funding to strengthen service stability and support local capacity, which created the conditions necessary to develop community-led operations. As a result, this vital service returned to a community organization last month, when the Inuvik Homeless Shelter Advisory Board assumed operational responsibility of the shelter. Housing NWT has also issued a Request for Proposals to identify a potential operator for the Inuvik Warming Shelter, continuing the GNWT’s efforts to expand community involvement in homelessness services.

I am encouraged by the meaningful progress we have made in addressing chronic homelessness in the NWT. To ensure our housing solutions reflect the needs and realities of the North, we will continue to strengthen our partnerships with non-governmental organizations, Indigenous governments, community governments and individuals with lived experience. Through these shared efforts, we can build a more responsive housing system that supports residents to find safe and stable places to call home.

Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.