Homeless in Iqaluit: what next?

People in Iqaluit had a chance to say what they’d like to see done for the growing number of Iqalungmiut who are homeless or without a permanent home to call their own.

“I need to hear from you how we can solve the problem,” said Elisapi Davidee, a consultant for the city, who animated the discussion in the Anglican Parish Hall. “We have to help each other and support each other. We have to deal with this as a community.”

Current projects include safe houses for children who find themselves homeless or unable to go home, a transition program for battered women, the homeless shelter, Tukisigiarvik, the new referral and friendship centre, a youth cottage, the mental health facility, Nunamiut summer camp as well as two future projects for alternative housing and a sobering-up house, which would be called Isumatsaqsiurvik.

The many suggestions that were brought out during the discussions include the need for more transitional, supervised housing, an emergency family shelter, and a larger, 24-hour shelter or an all-day centre.

This would be an alternative to the streets, a place where homeless could receive shelter and programs.

More coordination and less competition between service providers to the homeless would also assist in reducing management and overhead, said Davidee, who plans to meet individually with various parties before she submits a report to the city council at the end of the month.

Based on this report’s recommendations, projects dealing with homelessness will be developed, and hopefully receive funding.