Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My colleagues are sharing their thoughts today on poverty, in the hopes that we may begin the journey of preparing a proper Anti-Poverty Strategy framework. No matter what angle we look at, the message is very clear: It’s time to get the ball rolling on this strategy.
Countless volunteers and civic coalition partners have invested much time and energy as of late to get one anti-poverty chess piece off the concept table and into action. This much needed transitional facility is none other than Betty House.
My personal role started about a year ago, as president of the Yellowknife Community Foundation, when our board helped with the largest single donation in our foundation’s history to get Betty House off the ground. With coalition partners such as the Yellowknife Homelessness Coalition, BHP, The Brick, governments, women’s organizations and citizens of the NWT, together they have made Betty House a reality.
Why should we be so passionate about homelessness for women? Admittedly, most homelessness research is traditionally focused on men, but gender-specific literature has begun to emerge focusing on women’s unique housing issues, concerns and needs. Women, as we are finding out, account for a significant and growing proportion of population of homelessness which require gender-specific needs and preferences in terms of approaches to treatment, recovery and housing stabilization.
We know from our research that women also experience homelessness differently than men. Women are more likely to be guardians of children or are younger and homeless for shorter periods of time. Research also tells us they prefer self-contained units and women-only buildings, and favour communal living areas where they can form groups for social support; not to mention this new facility will need to consider the culturally appropriate services and living environments to support spiritual and traditional values.
It is truly unfortunate, but for many women, turning to homelessness is sometimes the only solution to escape from domestic conflict, abuse, or poor social housing conditions. It is where Betty House will play a significant role.
Betty House is a critical chess piece in our future Anti-Poverty Strategy framework to which all Members of the 17th Assembly are looking forward to be putting on their agenda. Therefore, let’s not disappoint our coalition partners and truly support an Anti-Poverty Strategy we can be proud of.
Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
