Yellowknife Homelessness Report Card 2008 - YWCA Canada

... for a Place to Call Home in YellowknifeYellowknife - Average Apartment Rent Rent levels increase in 2008 Affordable RentSource: CMHC,Source: CMHC,Source: CMHC,Overspending: AffordableHousingCMHC and organizations in othercountries define affordablehousing as “housing that costs nomore than 30% of gross income”.Exceeding 30% of gross incomefor shelter places a burden onindividuals and families to meetbasic living expenses such as rent,food, transportation and clothes.As people earn more income, thelikelihood of overspendingdecreases (middle left). This trendis not surprising given a decreasein the availability of low-pricedhomes (previous page), increasedrents (top left) and a decrease inthe number of public housing units(bottom left).An Ounce of PreventionSource: CMHC,Source: CMHC,Source: CMHC,Public Housing UnitsIt can be far better to prevent theloss of housing from occurringthan to try to fix it afterwards.Early education and skillsdevelopment can provideunderstanding and createoptions regarding employmentand places to live.Healthy social connections,positive coping skills, financialstability and feelings of safetycan help people achieve andmaintain permanent housing andindependence.Financial management and life skills can help prevent homelessness11