Accommodation at the Yellowknife women's shelter expands for 8

The Yellowknife Women's Societyis celebrating eight newroomsfor single, homeless women in the city,reducingovercrowdingat the women's emergency shelter.

Bygrand opening Wednesday, allunits were spoken for,with a growing waiting list.

"It has been a very, very busy year and a half," saidBreeDenning, executive directorof the Women's Society. The Society received funding from the Northwest TerritoriesHousing Corporation.

The project cost $460,000, according to Caroline Cochrane, minister responsible for housing in the Northwest Territories.

"Which is actually very small when you consider that eight women will be housed," she said.

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"For a very long time, the emergency shelter acted as a shelter, but also as apermanenthouse for folks that just needed a bit of support to move on," said Denning.

The aim is to give women more independence, dignity and privacy in these new units while "getting them up on their feet" Denning said.

Women were selected based on how long they've been at the emergency shelter, with those who hadbeen there longer givenpriority.

The main requirement is that the women make rent every month; either$900 of their income support cheque, or 30 per cent of their income if they are employed.They can stay for as long as they need, Denning said.

The women are free to go upstairs and access shelter resources, including acafeteriaand a staff memberavailable to teach life skills, likebudgeting and cooking.

"These women eight women will now have a home for Christmas and that's the most exciting gift that I could give to anyone,"saidCochrane.

"It's one of the best areas that we put our money into at this time."

The last of the women moved in Wednesday.

Just astart, says executive director

But this is just a step towardaddressing homelessnessin the city, said Denning.

"Unfortunately homelessness is an ongoing problem," Denning said."It's a start but we have to keep working."

Minister Cochrane agreed, saying:"We still have a long way to go."

She's hoping similar housing units at the Yellowknife Salvation Army will be next.

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