Jennifer dreamed of living and raising her family in Dettah, Northwest Territories, the First Nation where she grew up, but a lack of available housing put those dreams on hold.

As an adult, Jennifer moved out of her parents’ home in Dettah and into an apartment in Yellowknife with her three young children and now ex-partner. They were happy for a while, but after going into pre-term labour with her fourth child, Jennifer had to be medically evacuated to Edmonton for care and give up her apartment in Yellowknife during her baby’s lengthy hospital stay.

The family was eventually able to return home, but there was no home to go to. Jennifer’s sister took her family in for a few months until they moved into an overpriced rental in Yellowknife. The alternative was public housing, with a years-long waiting list. Her mother moved in and helped Jennifer through her separation and to support her young family, but sadly she passed away in early 2021.

“At one point I was behind on my rent and struggling to pay it off. It created so much stress, so much anxiety. My biggest fear was losing this home.”

With a lack of available housing in her home community, moving back to Dettah was wishful thinking. That is, until her boss told her about a partnership between Habitat for Humanity Northwest Territories and her band, Yellowknives Dene First Nation (YKDFN), and urged Jennifer to apply.

When she found out she had been approved for a Habitat home? “I was on my way to baseball, and I just dropped to the ground crying. Happy tears. I’m just so thankful I didn’t give up.”

Moving on-Nation

Jennifer and her family moved into their new home in December 2021. The land on which her house is located is Chief Drygeese Territory, the traditional land of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation.

Jennifer purchased her home with a zero-interest mortgage geared to her income and completed 500 partnership hours, a Habitat requirement.

Most future Habitat homeowners help to build their own homes to fulfill volunteer hours, but because the cost of lumber and raw materials is so high in the North, Jennifer’s home is a modular one (prefabricated and assembled). Due to stringent COVID protocols in 2021, Habitat NWT customized the volunteer hours to Jennifer. Jennifer provided Elder support, helped organize several large YKDFN community events, and volunteered to manage them along with her eldest children, Elijah and Desiree, now 19 and 15. Family and community members also helped with decking construction and clean-up of her home build, donating their hours to help Jennifer achieve her goal.

Today, Jennifer and her children are thriving in their home community. Elijah plans on learning a skilled trade. Desiree has become a talented sewer and loves spending time with cousins who live just down the road.

“My heart is so full of gratitude. We’re part of the community again, thank you for giving my family this opportunity. Thank you for partnering with me and bringing me home.”