Jason Unrau
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 21/05) - The number of those who took refuge at the regional women's shelter Transition House last year was slightly lower than in previous years, but executive director Ann Kasook says it isn't necessarily an indicator that family violence is on the decline.

Natasha Staples helps to put up some hands on a wall. Hands against violence were on sale for a buck at the Northmart this past weekend, with all funds raised going to Transition House, Inuvik's women's shelter.

"Sometimes it may be a good sign, but it may mean some are going underground," she said. "Since June, we've had a full house."

Transition House kicked off its annual 'I will not raise my hand to violence' fundraising drive on the weekend.

In 2004, the eight-bed facility provided shelter to 76 women and 38 children, down slightly from 87 women and 46 children in 2003.

"A lot of the time, women are turned away because we just don't have the space," Kasook said. Topping Kasook's wish list for the shelter is more space and funding for seven full-time, frontline workers.

At the moment, Transition House operates 24/7, 365 days a year with four full-time staff and three casual employees.

"The best case scenario would be a bigger space to accommodate children and a childcare worker."

However, with the expenses the shelter already faces - the cost of insurance alone is $14,000 per year - Kasook says the $300,000 budget is just enough to get by.

They receive funding from the Inuvik Regional Health and Social Services board and the Inuvialuit Community Corp's Brighter Futures program, but Kasook says the Inuvik Transition House Society still has to come up with nearly $100,000 through fundraising and private donations to make ends meet.