Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, housing is one of the core critical challenges facing the 18th Legislative Assembly. Homelessness plagues our communities, whether rural and remote or our regional centres. Public housing tenants face lengthy wait lists. We do not yet have enough long-term care beds for our seniors and elders.

Today I want to talk about a housing issue more likely to be hidden, but no less likely to be harmful and costly: the housing needs of women and children escaping family violence. Research into women's homelessness in Canada's North, including our territory, is sobering. The Homeless Hub found that women's security is often taken out of their control, dependent on their partners' behaviour and circumstances. A study from the YWCA found that domestic violence was a major determinant in women's homelessness. You must know, Mr. Speaker, that the NWT, with Nunavut, has the highest rate of family violence in Canada.

In spite of this, we have only five family violence shelters in all regional centres. That means that women and children in many of our small communities, often our most vulnerable communities, cannot have local access to a safe place to stay, not to mention victim services or the RCMP. Yes, it is true that the government will help families travel to the nearest shelter, but can you imagine the disruption of not only leaving your home, but also your community? What happens in an emergency?

This is an area that needs greater resources, Mr. Speaker, but the mandate of the government authorities addresses only the status quo. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous content granted