Women’s shelter becomes homeless shelter

The Qimaavik women’s shelter in Iqaluit has started accepting homeless women, who are homeless because of domestic violence.

“That covers the greatest number of women who are homeless right now,” said the shelter’s director, Debbie Paquette.

The shelter has long welcomed homeless women into its facility when they can, but this March is the first time they’ve made formal arrangements.

“It was really necessary and we had space,” Paquette said. “And we can’t deny the fact that the homelessness issue is what keeps women vulnerable to violence.”

On March 7, Iqaluit city council approved $17,859 from the National Homeless Initiative funding program to help the Baffin Regional Agvvik Society, which runs the shelter, to pay for staff.

Paquette is working on finding more money to continue to support homeless women next year.