Spence Bay (Jan 08/07) - A chronic housing shortage in Taloyoak has left a woman without her children.

Karen Nanook is staying in the women's shelter in the hamlet for the time being, but her two-year-old and five-month-old children are in foster care, due to her homeless status.

Nanook had been staying with the father of one of her children, until he lost his home on Dec. 11. "He was sent away for court. We thought he could keep his house, but (the) housing (department) took his house," said Nanook.

She moved in with family, but that ended soon after Christmas.

"There's not much here in the shelter, but it's OK," said Nanook. "I don't want to be staying here, but there is no choice."

Nunavut News/North attempted to contact the women's shelter in Taloyoak, but our phone calls were not returned prior to deadline. However, a Taloyoak health care worker confirmed that children are usually allowed at the shelter. "There are always children in the shelter. This must be an exception. You should really talk to the shelter manager," said mental health worker Mary-Ellen MacLean.

The waiting list for housing in Taloyoak is at least two years long, according to Stephen King, the hamlet's senior administrative officer (SAO).

Housing is such a problem in the community that it was one of the first questions King was asked when he was applying for the SAO's position.

"They asked what I thought the most important issue was in Taloyoak, and I said housing. It is quite a challenge, I've really seen the stress on people," said King. "It is to the point where we have two hamlet houses and we use them for public housing."

There is no quick fix coming for Taloyoak's housing crisis, but a band-aid solution is in the offing.

Like every hamlet in Nunavut, Taloyoak will be receiving a new five-plex later this year.

Three more are planned for subsequent years.