Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Aug 01/05) - The only homeless shelter in Iqaluit is the Oqota Shelter, and its 14 beds are full every night. It's for men only.

The Salvation Army took over the shelter four months ago. Garry Jones, the Salvation Army officer in Iqaluit, knows there is a need for a women's shelter.

"As the city grows, there will be even more of a need," he said.

Jones has turned away three people a night for the last week from the shelter, but thinks the figure could be higher. He explained that once the word that the shelter is full hits the street, people don't bother to try.

"I'm really worried about the winter. This is good weather, but..." said Jones.

"A shelter for women is needed very badly. Women are going to be in danger if they have no place to go," said Rhoda Ungaliq, a board member of the Qillitt Status of Women Council.

Ungaliq thinks the Oqota shelter should open beds for women.

"I don't know why they aren't doing that," she said.

The only other shelter in Iqaluit is the Qimaavik victim's services. They house 10 women and children who have been victims of violence. Homeless women who have not been abused do not qualify.

"They (Qimaavik) used to have two beds for homeless people, but they won't take them any more," explained Ungaliq.

Government houses employees

The Iqaluit Housing Authority (IHA) handles government subsidized housing in Iqaluit. The waiting list is three years.

To qualify for housing, you must live in Iqaluit for a year if you are a resident of Nunavut. It takes two years to apply if you hail from outside the territory.

You also have to be in good standing with housing associations in the territory.

The tenants are charged rent according to their income, and in many cases pay half of what a commercial landlord would charge.

"There are 90 current applications that meet our criteria, but I'm sure there are people who have given up on the waiting list," explained Susan Spring, the association's manager.

There are 436 homes in Iqaluit covered by the association, but Spring said it needs at least 90 more. Evictions - eight to 10 a year - and deaths free up some units.

One of the easiest ways to get a home in Iqaluit is to work for the government.

Every government employee qualifies for staff housing.

The employees are charged between $600 and $1,100, depending on the size of the apartment.

There is no wait list either. "We try to hire as many people as we have houses," said Archie Pronger, manager of staff housing for the government.