A Way Home: GNWT Draft Homelessness Strategy

In Canada, homelessness is defined as the situation of an individual, family or community without stable, safe, permanent, appropriate housing or the immediate prospect means and ability of acquiring it. (Gaetz et al.) The scope of this Strategy is mainly focused on individuals and families who are chronically homeless. Chronic homelessness is defined as an individual or family who has experienced homelessness for an extended period or multiple times over the course of a year. It is often characterized by frequent or long-term stays in shelters, on the streets, or in other places not meant for human habitation. This definition includes those who are chronically couch-surfing or sleeping rough, as homelessness often presents itself in the Northwest Territories (NWT). Indigenous people are overrepresented among Canadians and NWT residents experiencing homelessness. This Strategy was developed with sensitivity toward the definition of Indigenous homelessness; an experience more fully described through a composite lens of Indigenous worldviews to include individuals, families and even communities who are isolated from their relationships to the land, water, place, family, kin, each other, animals, cultures, languages, and identities.
Measures to prevent individuals and families from becoming homeless are woven throughout the objectives, recognizing that many individuals and families who would not identify as homeless are in precarious living situations and would benefit from the solutions described in this Strategy.
In the NWT significant root causes of homelessness include the impacts of colonialism, trauma, the lack of affordable housing, addictions and substance abuse, poverty, inequality, unemployment, and lack of access to education and healthcare. Multifaceted, person-centred approaches, sustained effort, and collaboration among governments, non-profits, and the private sector are all required to make meaningful progress in addressing the root causes of individuals or families being without a stable, safe, or appropriate place to call home.
This draft Strategy proposes nine areas of action: establishing functional zero homelessness goals for all communities; supporting community partnerships to use resources efficiently and implement evidence-based practices; improving access and use of mental health and addictions services for those experiencing homelessness, with immediate priority on chronic homelessness to match resources with greatest needs; ensuring shelter services have appropriate resources that accurately reflect the program and service needs of their users; increasing transitional housing and supportive housing placement options; establishing a whole of government approach with a unit focused on integrated service delivery and addressing homelessness; addressing policies that create barriers to housing and strengthening policy efforts to address and prevent homelessness; increasing the stock of accessible housing; and improving methods of collecting, sharing and analyzing client information and data.
This Strategy document should be considered a draft. Over the coming weeks, the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) will seek input and suggestions from Indigenous governments, community partners, community governments, internal and external stakeholders and the general public.