Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There has been a longstanding need for transition housing in Yellowknife for women, and through the leadership of the Yellowknife Homelessness Coalition, we are now getting closer to achieving that goal by addressing some of that need.
The Betty House is short for Better Environment to Transition in Yellowknife. This transition house will help northern women in addressing the homelessness issue and helping those at risk of becoming homeless, giving them a place to go.
Mr. Speaker, Betty House will provide a stable atmosphere for women who have no place to go and are trying to get through and get out of challenging situations. It will provide a safe place for them to begin their lives and put their lives in order.
Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize the hard work of the YWCA for championing this project, and more specifically, I’d like to recognize the City of Yellowknife and their homelessness coordinator, Dale Hernblad, for her leadership on this particular project.
Recently, the Betty House received very welcome news from BHP Billiton. They contributed $700,000 towards the estimated $6 million cost of building the Betty House. Mr. Speaker, that is a significant contribution towards this project and their generosity is certainly greatly appreciated by all.
The Yellowknife Community Foundation, a very well-known NGO in our city here, is contributing money. The City of Yellowknife is moving forward on this initiative by contributing efforts, resources and money, and private sector partners are all wanting to contribute in some way or form. The question really then that comes to mind is: where is the Government of the Northwest Territories?
Mr. Speaker, later today I will have questions for the Minister responsible for homelessness as to what partnership role our government is providing in this important initiative providing much needed transition housing for women in the city and in the North. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
