Multi-year funding ‘transformative’ for N.W.T. organizations focused on homelessness
2-year funding ‘turned what was once crisis management into a coordinated, effective housing system’
Multi-year funding to address homelessness has made a marked difference in support, according to several Yellowknife non-profit organizations who spoke at a meeting at city hall last week.
The federal and territorial funding was distributed by the city over two years to the Yellowknife Women’s Society, YWCA N.W.T., Home Base YK, the Salvation Army and the N.W.T. Integration and Community Services, for 2024 to 2026.
For some groups, it’s the first time that they’ve received funding for more than one year at a time.
Arlene Hache, the interim executive director of the Yellowknife Women’s Society, said that for the 2024-2025 year, the organization was granted around $730,000 and she’s expecting a similar amount for 2025-2026.
“The shift to multi-year funding was transformative,” said Hache during last Thursday’s meeting of the community advisory board on homelessness. “[It] turned what was once crisis management into a coordinated, effective housing system that restores dignity, prevents homelessness and creates sustainable community impact.”
The organization says the funding has helped it house 36 people in the N.W.T. who have had histories of chronic homelessness. The group has also helped over 120 individuals who were at risk of homelessness to remain in their homes by mediating issues with the landlord and covering rental arrears.
Speaking to CBC News, Hache said that the NGO sector in the territory has been advocating to receive multi-year funding “for decades.”
Now, with that in place, Hache said her organization has been able to expand services offered to clients. That includes a designated area with prospectors tents and stoves for the winter to provide cultural support and space for ceremonies.
The two-year funding commitment has also given employees a greater sense of security and allowed the organization to hire support workers and service coordinators, Hache said.
Multi-year funding provides stability for youth
For Home Base YK, a Yellowknife-based organization focused on providing support to youth, receiving a two-year funding commitment has provided much-needed stability to both the employees and the youth who use their services, said Tammy Roberts, the organization’s executive director.
“A lot of our youth have come through the child welfare system and it’s very common for those group of individuals to not have a lot of consistency in where they live,” said Roberts.
Home Base received close to $800,000 for 2024 to 2026, from the federal government’s Reaching Home initiative and distributed by the City of Yellowknife, said Roberts.
Since last April, the organization has housed 27 young people and six dependents, said Morgan Johnson, a representative for Home Base YK.
She also mentioned that there is currently a ten-person waitlist with the organization.
Many organizations who spoke on Thursday said they anticipate an increase in the number of people in the N.W.T. who will require support in the years to come.
Hache is confident that the success of the multi-year funding model will lead to its renewal beyond 2026, although it has yet to be confirmed.
“The [government of N.W.T.] is moving very quickly in terms of renewing a formalized way of supporting NGOs, and a formalized way of hearing what we have to say and responding to our needs,” Hache said.
“I believe that this is kind of a fairly permanent approach that they’re gonna take going forward.”
Related stories from around the North :
Canada:Person-focused homelessness strategy tabled in N.W.T., CBC News
Finland: Finland’s new gov breezes through no-confidence vote over its agenda, Yle News
Sweden: Swedish Centre Party promises tax break for rural northerners, Radio Sweden
United States: Anchorage, Alaska declares a civil emergency over looming cuts, Alaska Public Media
