b'SAFE HOUSINGNihdawin, which means My housea place where I live, helps women build the founda-tion they need to rebuild their lives. People cant begin their healing until they have a home, Tait-Martens notes. Its a human right and its a priority in all the work that weTHINGS TO THINK ABOUT dohaving that safe, stable housing that is theirs, that is somewhere where they can start to put their roots down. WHAT TO CONSIDER BEFORE PICKING YOUR HOMEHELPING THE HOMELESS Go over locations of units and make sure that the area will The program works specifically with individ- meet your needs within the community. Examples of things uals who are experiencing chronic or episodicto consider include bus routes, grocery stores, shopping homelessness, with chronic homelessnesscentres, accessible areas and schools.defined as being homeless for more than six months and episodic homelessness as beingConsider safety planning. This includes how to contact the homeless for more than six times in onelandlord; if there is no phone then finding out where to use a calendar year. We work with [individualspublic phone; where after-hour services are available; identi-in] our community that are very difficultfying food supports, etc. to house, says Tait-Martens. When you are street-based for a long time, it can beKnow your community supports. Reaching out to services challenging. When you live in crisis and youwhen there is an issue can help prevent eviction, relieve live in chaos, its what you know, its whattensions and assist in addressing any issues you may be youve learned to navigate and sometimes theexperiencing in your new unit or location.stability is the hardest part in coming out of that because youre not used to having it. Pay direct monthly to your landlord. This ensures that your The Indigenous women the program hasrent is always covered and taken directly from your income. helped, and their children, are thankful forThe remaining amount could be utilized for food, health, the teams assistance, especially because theypersonal needs, etc., but your rent will be guaranteed to do not always have the means to pay highbe covered.rents. Its really great to see the teamwork with the people and be able to create thatCast a wide net if selecting from a social housing list but stabilization and support the reunificationmake sure you are comfortable in each location that you of their families from child welfare, Tait- choose. Social housing units when presented may not always Martin says. We make sure the units we dobe in your dream location, so learn to work around what will put individuals in are affordable, so if ourwork for you and your family in various spaces. supports go away that person is still able to make their rent, stabilize and continue to haveBe patient and seek supports while you wait for affordable their home. housing units. It is good to continue to check the status Tait-Martens adds that rents have increasedof units or possible newly listed units. The market is very over the years, with single bachelor unitscompetitive right now in affordable private market landlords sometimes going for more than $1,000 andand staying up-to-date on units and contacting potential single rooms in shared accommodationslandlords immediately can make sure you get a viewing.going for $800. Thats why the relationships are so important with the landlords, she explains. We have landlords that call us and Aboriginal Womens undl Nwfo etwNe orkThe Newfoundland Aboriginal Womens Network Thunder Bay Country Market and SBD StudioSupporting & Empowering Indigenous Women234 Heron Street, Thunder Bay& their Families since 2005. 807-357-5811 | sisterbeardesigns@gmail.com90 Main St, Stephenville, NL A2N 1J3 www.sisterbeardesigns.comPhone: 709-643-4563 | Email: nawn@nf.aibn.com Ontario Native Womens Association41'