Emotions at Lynn’s Place are running high after a notice of an increase on the transitional housing centre’s rent circulated on Sept. 29.
The notice, sent by the YWCA NWT executive director Hawa Dumbaya-Sesay, stated that “We always strive to keep our housing fees as low as possible. However, due to the rising costs associated with maintaining our facilities and providing essential services, we find it necessary to implement an increase.”
The new rates would see a three-bedroom unit rising to $1,930 per month as of Feb. 1, 2024, up from the current price of $1,750.
Lynn’s Place, which operates as an arm of the YWCA in downtown Yellowknife, is a transitional housing unit that “offers a stable, safe, affordable place to call home for women (and children under 16) who need safe housing after leaving a violent relationship, or who are ready to find stability in a safe environment.”
It contains 18 suites on three floors and rent is calculated in accordance with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) affordability guidelines.
Community advocate Arlene Hache noted that rent for a three-bedroom unit in Yellowknife averages $1,757, according to the Yellowknife: Cost of Living Prices for Rent and Food (2023) publication.
“In Canada, housing is considered affordable if it costs less than 30 per cent of a household’s before-tax income. That is the commitment the YWCA NWT has made for tenants moving into Lynn’s Place II,” said Hache.
Hache blasted the YWCA for the sudden increase.
“The YWCA NWT was handed this multi-million (dollar) taxpayer-funded asset mortgage-free so it would be in a position to keep the rents affordable for women in transition,” she claimed. “The same will be true for the new facility. As a person with lived expertise of homelessness, and a community advocate with half a century experience in the provision of housing services, I am opposed to this extreme rental increase. It leaves women in transition, most of whom are Indigenous, living in poverty and at risk of becoming homeless again. As a taxpayer, I also am opposed to non-profit organizations benefitting from millions in assets that are handed to them when there is little to no accountability back to the community or to the people they purport to serve.
“I would like to know much revenue the YWCA NWT takes in from all levels of government, foundations and fundraising for Lynn’s Place and how much does it actually cost to operate the building and programs,” Hache continued. “The public presentation of the finances doesn’t provide enough detail to understand exactly what tenants are paying for with their rent.”
When contacted for comment, Dumbaya-Sesay sent a statement to NNSL expressing the same concerns “raised by some community members regarding the recent decision to increase program fees in our transitional housing program, which construction is funded by CMHC.
“Our primary goal is to ensure that women and children have access to safe and stable housing. We want to provide more context for this decision and emphasize our commitment to addressing these concerns. The decision to increase program fees in our transitional housing was not made lightly. The funding for this building comes from CMHC, and it is essential that we maintain the financial sustainability of the building over the years so we can continue to provide support to those in need.
“CMHC determines what the rent increase can be for the projects they fund and what affordability means. Since the opening of the building in 2014, we have not made any increase to the fees. However, over time, operational costs, such as building maintenance, utilities, and staffing, have increased, making it necessary to adjust the fees to cover these expenses. YWCA NWT housing programs are crucial support systems for women and their families, and rental increases are not an attempt to make money. Unfortunately, it is a necessity, so we can continue to provide this housing option,” Dumbaya-Sesay added.
“We want to assure our clients and community members that we are actively exploring all available options to reduce the impact of this fee increase on our clients. We are working closely with funders to explore additional funding opportunities, cost-saving measures, and community partnerships that could help us maintain affordability without compromising the quality of the housing program and wraparound supports provided to the clients. We are dedicated to the work we do in our community and welcome any additional support.”
In essence, no rent increase has taken place for a decade to match increases in operational costs, which explains the uptick in rental fees.
Hache hopes that ultimately the YWCA will “reconsider this rent increase and base their rent on 30 per cent of tenant income.”