Helping homeless and abused on a shoestring

They’re underfunded and sometimes their work goes unappreciated, but two major organizations in Iqaluit continue to tackle homelessness and violence against women.

This week, for the first time in two years, the Illitiit Society, which runs, among other projects, Iqaluit’s shelter and youth cottage, and the Baffin Regional Agvvik Society, which operates the Qimaavik Women’s Shelter, were able to raise a quorum for their joint annual meetings, recruit new board members and revive their memberships – much to the relief of chairs Bill Riddell and Jane Cooper.

The two groups decided to hold their annual general meetings together this year, a move that resulted in increased attendance by a representative cross-section of Iqaluit residents, which included men and women, Inuit and non-Inuit.

Illitiit has revenues of $315,800, with which it operates a number of projects. The largest portion of its funds, $93,400, comes from federal homeless initiative funds which are funnelled through the City of Iqaluit’s “Continuum of Care” program.

“We’re operating on a very narrow budget,” Illitiit’s executive director, Josh Teemotee-Mittima, told the gathering. “It’s a wonder we’re still operating today.”

Illitiit also receives money from territorial government departments as well as contributions from the Iqaluit Housing Authority, the Kakivak Association, an annual art auction, and First Air.

Most of the money goes toward salaries and covering basic expenses to run the 14-bed Oqota Shelter.

The shelter offers space to homeless men and women, as well as to clients awaiting court or who have conditional sentences or probation orders, and to social services clients with mental problems.

Last summer, several shelter residents were able to go clam digging, camping and hunting, thanks to an outboard motor purchased with funds raised by an auction of art donated by inmates of the Fenbrook penitentiary, from the Fehely Art Gallery of Toronto, the Contemporary Art Gallery of Toronto and Avrum Isaacs.

Local businesses, such as Canada Catering, Northmart and Arctic Ventures, also made food donations to the shelter.

“They [shelter residents] don’t have a stove. So if you have a spare turkey, cook it up and bring it over,” said board member Kowesa Etitiq. “These guys don’t have two quarters to rub together.”

The shelter was also painted last summer by volunteers from the GN’s department of justice.

This year, Illitiit received funding to look into the feasibility of operating a sobering-up shelter, Issamatsaqsiurvik. However, due to limited funds, the idea has been shelved. The board is also investigating a traditional housing model that would provide a low-cost, cooperative type of alternative housing to alleviate Iqaluit’s housing crisis.

Illitiit’s youth cottage, set up in August, now serves six youth who are referred through the courts, and its transitional housing for battered women, which will be transferred to the Agvvik Society, is also in operation.

The Agvvik board had fallen to two members – outgoing chair Jane Cooper, and Napatchie McCrae. The society added eight new members to its board.

The Qimaavik Shelter has a budget of $614,000 this year and supplies shelter and support to victims of violence throughout the Baffin region.

With a full complement of board members, Agvvik will undertake more education and prevention activities.