'An insane and very happy feeling': Nahanni Butte adds 6 homes for young families

In Nahanni Butte, N.W.T., Lory Ann Bertrand is still getting used to the idea that she and her family now have their own place.

They  moved into a new two-bedroom trailer in the community just last weekend. It is one of six homes purchased this year by the Nahanni Butte Dene Band for community members. They are being leased out through a rent-to-own program.

"It didn't really hit me until after we hauled the last bit of our stuff," she said.

"It was like, OK, this is our home, this is where we are going to live, and this is where [Bertrand's son] is going to be raised. It's an insane and very happy feeling."

Previously, Bertand and her family were living with her parents. While she loved living so close to her family, she is glad to have her own home.

"It makes me feel more on my feet and feel more steady," she said.

Nahanni Butte, a community of about 85 people, has historically struggled with a housing issues. In 2021, the census showed that of the 35 units in the community, 15 were in need of major repairs. An internal survey from the community the same year found that they would need to add 21 units by 2026 to alleviate the shortage, according to Nahanni Butte band manager Soham Srimani.

Nahanni Butte Chief Steve Vital said that the six new homes are the result of a push from the community to secure some of their own funding to alleviate this shortage.

They were purchased with $5.5 million in funding from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's rapid housing initiative, along with a $500,000 contribution from Housing N.W.T., and $890,000 from Nahanni Butte Dene Band.

Vital said that the band's focus is to create affordable housing for young parents in the community to move out on their own. As a result, all six homes are going to young parents employed in the community.

"It's a big step for the younger generation and the younger families to take, and I'm hoping that it really works out," he said.

He said its also making a big difference in alleviating overcrowded housing, which has been a problem in the community.

"Some places you have up to 10 people in a three-bedroom house, and these are younger generations that are having kids within that household," he said.

The community has plans to keep building more housing.