Hay River (July 09/01) - The search for homes for Hay River's homeless is weaving some new threads into the Hub's social safety net.

Two men and a woman have burned their bridges with the NWT Housing Corporation and were evicted from public housing for alcohol-related problems.

Mayor Duncan McNeill

Last winter, the Soaring Eagle Friendship Centre, working with the housing corporation and other social agencies, opened a temporary homeless shelter in Hay River's old town. Residents protested and the town issued a stop work order that forced the shelter to close.

Vern Jones, executive director for the friendship centre, said the homeless were moved to the Cedar Rest Motel with emergency funds provided by social services.

"When that money ran out, they went to the Hay River campground, but they could only stay there for a maximum of 14 days," Jones said. "So we moved them from that campsite to the campsite at Louise Falls."

Hay River's mayor Duncan McNeill recently met with representatives from the housing corporation, health and social services to work out a solution.

McNeill says this is the first time this has happened in Hay River, so they weren't sure how to proceed.

"They're going to come up with a proposal that I can take to the ministers, because it's not just a one department issue," McNeill said. "It becomes a complicated issue when you try to look after adults who aren't responsible for themselves."

He said they are hoping the GNWT will come up with a policy for the "hard to house," so other municipalities will have a solution should they encounter the same situation.

"Housing is not the responsibility of the municipality, but we are working with all the necessary agencies to try and find a solution to make sure that these people are not left laying in the streets at anytime of year," McNeill said.

"Despite the fact that they are there because of their own actions."