Yellowknife Women's Centre gets use of Detox centre
Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Dec 15/00) - After a long wait and heavy lobbying spanning three seasons the Yellowknife Women's Centre finally got the detox centre on Franklin Ave.
The NWT Housing Corporation verbally announced Wednesday morning that they were transferring use of the detox centre to the women's shelter until March 31, so those in need can get immediate shelter.
Its ultimate use will then be decided after public consultation.
"In March I asked for it," said Arlene Hache, director of the women's centre.
"Things were getting desperate to get the detox building, it had become inhumane to house women on 47th St.," said Hache who told the Housing Corporation she would pursue other means to get the detox centre like holding a sit in. Hache also had the backing of the Salvation Army, the YWCA and the side door along with Yellowknife MLAs.
Hache said the shelter has been seeing more and more traffic over the last year and their current facility, with only two beds and a couple of couches, couldn't handle the demand.
"There was no privacy, no way to keep safe because we were taking women in who were drinking as a result of the cold," said Hache.
Hache said an incident last week illustrated the desperate situation the shelter was in.
According to Hache, a woman with psychiatric problems ran out of the shelter not clothed for the weather only to be picked up by the RCMP. The woman was strapped down and taken to hospital.
"Women who were staying here are still traumatized from that incident," said Hache.
Housing Corporation president Tom Beaulieu said his department had been waiting for the Grollier Hall Healing Circle to vacate the detox centre -- which they did two weeks ago.
"For the last two weeks there had been discussions between various ministers and decision was made to allow the women's shelter to take it," said Beaulieu.
He estimated the centre would cost the women's centre around $4,800.
As of press time Beaulieu had not spoken with Hache about the details. He said he hoped to sit down with Hache and iron out the paper work today.
"I hope (the women's centre) will be able to move in by Christmas," said Beaulieu.
