N.W.T.'s first transition home for youth opening in Yellowknife
Official ceremony begins at 3 p.m. today
The Northwest Territories' first transition home for homeless youth officially opens today in downtown Yellowknife.
The city's SideDoor Youth Ministries owns and operates Hope's Haven. For the last 10 years, the youth organization has offered emergency shelter for homeless young people, but says it was forced to send kids back on the streets every day.
Now, youth aged 16 to 24 will have a chance to get back on their feet and out of homelessness.
Tenants will not only get housing from Hope's Haven. The new transition home will offer programs, services and life skills: including cooking and applying for school and jobs.
Hope's Haven has eight single units, a one bedroom apartment and a three bedroom shared apartment.
There is no timeline for how long youth can stay there. The only condition is that they have to work on their issues, whether it be addictions, counselling for trauma, finishing their education and developing skills so they can succeed on their own.
The official opening ceremony begins today at 3 p.m.