Yellowknife (December 6, 2021) – On the morning of December 6^th, 2021, the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority opened a new Temporary Day Shelter at the former site of Yellowknife Visitors Centre.  This facility and the services offered within will support homeless members of the Yellowknife community.

This new temporary shelter option will operate 7 days a week from 7am to 6:30 pm daily. Capacity at service commencement is 30 shelter users plus staff. This may be adjusted as operations at the facility are assessed on an ongoing basis.

Services offered at this facility include basic needs like showers, food, washrooms, and laundry. There are also plans to add programming such as crafts and cultural activities in addition to providing access to basic healthcare services through partnerships with the NTHSSA outreach nursing program and other services.

Shelter users have been notified of this change and opening on the first day of operations has gone well. This new service adds capacity to ensure continued access to a safe warm place while measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 continue. Other services providing supports to those who do not have access to safe housing continue to operate and provide additional supports to community members in need.