Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Feb 10/99) - It came about four months after the fact, but a group home for homeless people got the nod from council Monday.

The house at 5107 51st Street has been operating as a group home without the proper permit for four months.

Operated by North Slave Housing Corporation, the home is funded by the NWT Housing Corporation and the Department of Education, Culture and Employment.

The territorial government is using it as a pilot project in developing accommodation for the homeless, explained, corporation spokesman Tom Beaulieu.

But some neighbours told council Monday, the home is causing them more headaches.

Rene Bahaus, who lives next door to the house, said there has been heavy drinking in his yard.

Questioned by Coun. Blake Lyons, Bahaus said the area has attracted drinking parties regularly.

But another person who owns several properties along the street said things have gone from bad to worse.

"I moved into that area two years ago," said John Best. "At that time most of the street people there lived in my backyard. I worked hard to clean it up...and we've slipped backward in the last four months."

Best said he has never been consulted about the home by government, the company running it, the city or the co-ordinator who organized it. He called for some way to control "the excess people, excess noise and excess partying."

But Best added he had no objection to the group home itself, "if there are policies in place and the people of the neighbourhood are assured those policies can be adhered to."

One of the two people employed for the last two months as caretakers for the home said it's a question of manpower.

Ernie Glowach admitted that sometimes it is difficult to control both the inside and outside of the property with only two caretakers to attend to the home 24 hours a day.

Questioned by Coun. David Ramsay, he said he had allowed more than the limit of 10 people into the home.

"At the beginning we did let more in," said Glowach. "We would call the Salvation Army and the detox centre, and if they were full, because it was 40 below, we'd allow them in."

Glowach said the home is already making a difference.

"People are getting jobs and quitting drinking," he said. "We are making a change in their lives and its only been four months."

Council voted unanimously to allow the home to continue. Coun. Kevin O'Reilly suggested the city arrange a meeting between neighbours, the government, the operator and those who live in the home to help iron out the bugs.