Inuvik scrambles to save homeless shelter

Officials in Inuvik, N.W.T., are racing to save the local homeless shelter from closing next month, as well as help the northern town's homeless find alternatives.

The homeless shelter, which has been run by the Nihtat Gwich'in Council, is slated to close on July 15 due to a funding shortage.

Mayor Denny Rodgers said the town is looking for a way to help the homeless, either with extra funding or with the existing$180,000 in fundingthe local shelter receives from the N.W.T. government each year.

"Is there a bare-bones program? Is there something we can do with that [$180,000] to at least provide nighttime shelter?" Rodgers told CBC News.

$50K deficit

Staff with the Nihtat Gwich'in Council have said it cost $300,000 to keep the shelter open last year.

Band administrator Barbara Crawford said the shelter's costs left the council witha $50,000 deficit, despite efforts to cut costs and generate sponsorships.

Now with the shelter slated to close, Crawford said the band is working with homeless individuals to find alternative options.

"The Nihtat Gwich'in Council, since this decision has been made, has been working with [the N.W.T. Department of] Education, Culture and Employment and talking to the housing association to see what assistance we can give to the clients, to transition them into housing or help them in income support," Crawford said.

But Rodgers said Inuvik, a town of about 3,500, still needs some kind of overnight or emergency shelter.

"Once fall rolls around, it gets cold. It becomes a very serious issue," he said.

"So we're going to look where we can to find what funding we can. In the meantime, we have to find a way to make the [$180,000] that currently is available to work."