Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the territory needs transitional housing. Mr. Speaker, I have constituents who are homeless and in unstable situations. Mr. Speaker, we are in a crisis. Last year, one shelter director in Yellowknife estimated, quote, "if all shelters in town stopped taking in people or stopped taking people in when they reach capacity, there would be an extra 50 people living on the street." Mr. Speaker, I need to highlight this, that many of these people, quote, "many of these people" are our Indigenous brothers and sisters. They are someone's child, parent, or parents, grandparent, parents, siblings, aunts or uncles.

Mr. Speaker, this is a sensitive issue for many of our people who found themselves in tough situations. My heart goes out to them.

In April, media reports reported on Yellowknife, quote, "point in time count showing that 327 people were homeless in 2024, a 5 percent increase from 2021." Mr. Speaker, small communities face the same problem. Some single men will never get off the waiting list for housing. Some of them are saying we will never get a unit or a house in their lifetime. They will not see it. This is what they're saying. It's not my word; it's their word.

The federal and territorial governments signed an agreement in December 2024 committing $1 million each over two years. Mr. Speaker, this money is intended to alleviate capacity challenges identified by local shelters operator while addressing encampments and helping find homes for people sleeping in tents. Their goal is to increase supportive housing options for people at risk, but $2 million will not have a big enough impact. Mr. Speaker, can I have unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, we must use these programs to help people struggling in small communities. In Tlicho region, the government's Northern Pathway to Housing program partnered with Behchoko Friendship Centre to provide transitional housing, but people need wraparound supports for health and addiction needs like the ones offered by the Housing First program and the new housing -- and the new facility. How can we extend wraparound support to our small communities. I will have questions for the Minister of housing at the appropriate time. Thank you.