Nathan VanderKlippe
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 25/02) - Yellowknife may soon be home to two transitional homes, one for single men and one for single women.

Karen Hoeft, chair of the Yellowknife Homelessness Coalition, said she is in the process of trying to establish the homes in two houses that have been deemed federal surplus properties.

"As there are some available in town, we're working to put together a proposal to the Treasury Board ... so they can be used to alleviate homelessness in our community," she said.

"We have the ability as a coalition to appropriate federal surplus lands as they become available."

The homes would be used for people moving between emergency shelters and permanent housing. "We have a housing shortage for single people in our community. There's not many places for them to go to, even if they could afford it," said Hoeft.

The Salvation Army and Yellowknife Women's Centre currently run gender-specific shelters. About 40 men and 27 women use those shelters every night.

"There is a very great need for a facility like that, for sure," said Fiona Traynor, an advocate at the Yellowknife Women's Centre. "A shelter doesn't fit everybody who may not have a permanent place to live."

Hoeft would not say where the houses are located, or give an expected target date for their creation, saying it was premature to announce that information.

Before anything can happen the Treasury Board must grant permission and the city must change zoning at the houses to allow for their use as transitional homes. Neighbourhood consultation would be involved in that process.