Check against delivery.

Mr. Speaker, housing insecurity remains a significant challenge across the Northwest Territories, and understanding its full scope is essential. Through an empathetic, collaborative approach, strong partnerships, and continued coordination, we are working to advance the priorities in the government’s strategic response to homelessness, titled ‘A Way Home’, to better support individuals facing housing challenges.

The Territorial Housing Needs Assessment found that homelessness in the territory, as in much of Canada, is a growing challenge. The 2024 Point-in-Time Homelessness Count, identified 327 individuals experiencing homelessness in Yellowknife. Meanwhile, the Assessment highlights nearly 20% of its survey respondents had someone currently staying in their household on a temporary basis, an indicator of hidden homelessness. Our strategy puts forward solutions to interrupt homelessness wherever possible, and we cannot lose sight of those who are in precarious living situations in delivering on these solutions.

To strengthen our understanding of homelessness in smaller communities, the GNWT is working with community partners to complete a point-in-time homelessness count in communities across the NWT this year.

Mr. Speaker, Housing NWT is focused on expanding transitional and supportive housing, strengthening shelter operations, and increasing the supply of appropriate and affordable social housing. For some, transitional housing provides a step out of homelessness and emergency shelters into more permanent housing. For others, particularly those returning home after addictions treatment, it provides access to safe, sober housing that supports continued recovery.

In Yellowknife, a temporary transitional housing residence on Highway No. 3, operated by the Yellowknife Women’s Society, began accepting residents in December 2025, providing a safe and stable place to stay, with life skills programming and culturally grounded supports. I am pleased to share that it is currently operating at full capacity. Sheltering 24 individuals, the facility has already supported successful moveouts into treatment or longer-term housing. These much-needed services would not be possible without the dedicated work of the Yellowknife Women’s Society.

Transitional housing for addictions recovery is being expanded. Through a partnership between Housing NWT, the Department of Health and Social Services, and the Salvation Army, a renovated five-bedroom home in Yellowknife now provides safe, sober housing for individuals continuing their recovery. A similar home, developed in partnership with Health and Social Services and the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, will open in Inuvik this summer. I look forward to the continued work we will accomplish through these valued partnerships.

As we work to prevent and reduce homelessness, emergency shelters remain a critical entry point to safety and stability.

In Inuvik, the Homeless Shelter and Warming Shelter are now operated by partner organizations, in line with GNWT efforts to stabilize services. In Yellowknife, Housing NWT assumed responsibility for the Day Shelter and Sobering Centre from Health and Social Services on April 1st, 2026. The goal of these transitions is to bring services together with other support programs, improving coordination and access.

Additionally, Budget 2026-2027 increased on-going funding for service operators managing emergency homelessness shelters in the communities of Yellowknife, Fort Simpson, Inuvik and Hay River.

As warmer weather arrives, the GNWT continues to work with the City of Yellowknife and community partners to respond to homelessness-related issues as they arise, ensuring shelter spaces are available and accessible, and reducing barriers to shelter use. The GNWT has collaborated with partners, such as the City of Yellowknife and the RCMP, to develop standard operating procedures that guide the GNWT’s response to encampments, and how we interface with other governments, partners, and agencies. These are needed as we seek to understand the needs of residents who live outside the shelter system and reside in encampments, as well as support them in accessing services that are available.

These initiatives demonstrate the importance of strong partnerships and community-led initiatives to meaningfully address homelessness in the territory. Homelessness is not something any one government or organization can solve alone.

Mr. Speaker, addressing homelessness remains a shared priority for the GNWT and our partners. While the causes are complex, our direction is clear: to work together, rely on evidence, and focus on solutions that support stability, dignity, and long-term housing. This work is not about quick fixes, it is about building the right supports, in the right places, so that every resident of the Northwest Territories has a safe place to call home.

Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.