SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - An empty space on 54 Street could be the place for a long-awaited transitional home for homeless women, similar to the Bailey House for men.

City council passed a motion Monday night to acquire four lots on 54 Street, to be set aside for the Yellowknife Homelessness Coalition (YHC), which is currently canvassing ideas on where to place the home. The YHC has had troubles in the past locating a suitable place.

"Some suitable options turned out to be impossible," said city councillor and member of the coalition Lydia Bardak.

Last June, the YHC sought to renovate the old Kitikmeot Boarding Centre building on 52 Street. However, an architect's report on the building read that even after $1.78 million in renovations to bring the building up to code, the building's layout would make it ineligible for funding from the NWT Housing Corporation.

"The coalition is basically looking for whatever is going to work out best," said Bardak. "There's possibilities of funding through the NWT housing corporation … some units in the Bailey House were built with funding from NWT Housing Corporation."

The YHC currently has almost $750,000 in federal funding that will expire on March 31 if not used.

The four lots are worth about $935,000 total, according to Bardak. She said that the YHC may see if they can build something on less than four lots, or purchase all the land and use it as leverage for another location. Bardak could not provide any further details on what other properties are being considered, or ideas discussed.

Calls to YHC members Gary Hubert, Sandra Turner, and Lynn Foley were not returned by press time.

At Monday's council meeting, Coun. Paul Falvo asked who would operate the house.

"If an agency was not willing or able to undertake it, I am confident members of the community would create a community board," Bardak replied.

Bardak said various members of the community support this idea. Mayor Gord Van Tighem agreed that this was plausible, and has been done in Yellowknife before.

"Northern United Place is a strong example," said Van Tighem.