Yellowknife (Aug 25/06) - A planned transitional house for homeless men is back online following a nervous few days for Yellowknife social advocates.

While members of the Yellowknife Homeless Coalition feared the worst last week following reports that $416,000 was being slashed from their $1.6 million budget, the federal government re-affirmed support for programs nationwide, including the Bailey House transitional home.

"Does it stop the Bailey House project? No. But it will make it more work and deflects energy that could go towards other projects," said Arlene Hache, head of the Centre for Northern Families, during a press conference last Friday.

Western Arctic MP Dennis Bevington, who also attended the conference, said the New Democrat Party was "outraged" by the apparent cut.

However, an Aug. 17 press release from federal Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Diane Finley assured there were no cuts to the funding under the Conservatives National Homelessness Initiative (NHI).

"In light of some recent misinformation in the media concerning the availability of funds for the Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative, under the NHI, I'd like to set the record straight," said Finley.

"There have been absolutely no cuts to funding for this program."

"It's absolutely good news because we were counting on that money to help ensure the success of (Bailey House)," said Lydia Bardak, chair of the homelessness coalition and executive director of the John Howard Society, a non-profit social justice group. "So many of us in the NGO sector do have to go to the public to raise our funds and we don't want to exhaust all our supporters out there."

Even Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean attended a sod-turning event at the future site of the Bailey House, during her summer visit to the territories. Bardak said with the funding assured, plans can continue apace with the demolition of the old firehall on Franklin Avenue near the Salvation Army Building before winter and the architectural drawings, currently in the works.

The City of Yellowknife provides office space for the coalition and support from the its public safety division. The city is in the process of concluding a land exchange for the firehall.

"It's overall good news for Yellowknife and the North," said Van Tighem of the news full funding would be available. "We've got one of the most organized and effective homelessness groups here and it's good for them to know they have the additional funding in their future."

Homelessness coalition statistics indicate between 40 and 50 men use the mens emergency shelter located at the Salvation Army, each night. The transition house - to be run under the Salvation Army - will be able to accommodate between 30 and 36 men and provide a stepping stone towards independent living.

After the Bailey House is complete, plans are to build a similar facility for women in Yellowknife.