Housing NWT, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and the City of Yellowknife came together on May 20 for a ground-breaking ceremony on a new 50-unit public housing complex coming to downtown Yellowknife. 

Expected to open in fall 2026, the new housing units will be split between 25 barrier-free bachelor suites and 25 two-bedroom units. At the structure's base will be commercial spaces for Housing NWT鈥檚 North Slave District Office and a service location for the Yellowknife Housing Authority.

Applications are open to prospective tenants hoping to move into the building, though based on what Housing Minister Lucy Kuptana said, the wait-list is fairly extensive.

"We have over 300 families on the wait-list in Yellowknife alone," she said. "There's currently applications in the system right now as we speak."

When 黑料吃瓜网 first reported on this project in November 2024, then-president of Housing NWT Eleanor Young said the people who will end up living at this new dwelling are likely going to be the same people currently staying at other public housing units.

Because this is public housing, the total household incomes of people living in one household will determine the amount of rent they pay every month. According to Housing NWT, no household pays less than $70 per month or more than $1,625 per month.

The new building will be located on 50 Street, next to The Raven Pub. Behind it will be a new day shelter.

According to a request for tenders, the GNWT's Department of Infrastructure was looking for qualified contractors to build a new wellness recovery centre on 51 Street. The construction of that project is also expected to be complete by 2026 and will be designed to accommodate almost 100 people, including staff and clients. Once it's open, it will be operated by the NWT Health and Social Services Authority.

Asked in November if Housing NWT has been in contact with The Raven Pub, Young said no at the time. That hasn't changed since, according to Dan Korver, director of infrastructure with Housing NWT.

"We've not had any direct discussions with The Raven, but we are aware of the presence of other businesses, other residents in the area, and we'll make sure that anything's mitigated," he said.

Korver added that through the city's development permit process, the GNWT received comments from businesses that were largely in support of the project. 

Funding for this project was made possible thanks to almost $21 million contributed through CMHC鈥檚 Rapid Housing Initiative, according to a press release from the GNWT.