SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A disabled couple who won an appeal against the GNWT's Income Assistance Program over lost possessions - ruined after they were forced to leave them outdoors - has to go through a second appeals process.

Helen and Timothee Caisse want $800 in extra emergency assistance from the GNWT for ruined belongings. - NNSL file photo

Timothee and Helen Caisse's belongings were ruined in November, when they had to leave furniture, food and electronic equipment outside after being temporarily left homeless while moving to a public housing unit in Yellowknife. The Yellowknife Housing Authority wouldn't let the couple into their subsidized unit at Dorset Apartments on Nov. 10, because Income Assistance failed to confirm it would cover their damage deposit.

Timothee Caisse said it is "shameless" for the government to appeal.

He said damage to their belongings totalled well over $2,000, but he sought just $1,800 in compensation.

Income Assistance provided $1,000 in emergency help and the couple appealed for the extra $800. On Dec. 18, the Social Assistance Administrative Review Group's appeal committee agreed with the Caisses.

"However, I'm not going to get paid," Timothee Caisse said earlier this week.

According to documents he provided to Yellowknifer, Social Assistance has appealed the Caisses' appeal victory.

The second appeal the Administrative Review Group erred in law by ordering more money to be paid to the Caisses than is permitted for emergency help under Income Assistance regulations.

Timothee Caisse is incredulous the government would appeal $800.

"How much is this going to cost them when all they had to do was pay me 800 bucks?" he said.

"I'm not asking for new stuff," he added, stating he is seeking enough money to replace the lost belongings with second-hand items.

The second appeal will be heard sometime in January. Catherine Boyd, acting assistant deputy minister with ECE, would not comment on specifics of the case. In general terms, she said there is a two-step appeals process. The first-level Administrative Review Group is made up of ECE staff not working for Income Assistance. The second level is the Social Assistance Appeal Board, to which a client or the government can appeal.

"And that decision is final," Boyd said.

The six-member appeal board consists of independent people not working with ECE.

The Yellowknife Housing Authority's refusal to allow the Caisses to move in without proof of a damage deposit forced them to spend Nov. 10 and 11 in their vehicle. The couple were moving from a cabin on Highway 3 to a publicly subsidized unit at Dorset apartments.

"We had everything arranged," said Timothee Caisse, adding all Income Assistance had to do was notify the housing authority the damage deposit was covered. "And they never did."

The Caisses didn't have the money to pay the damage deposit. Caisse said a couple of friends with vehicles helped move their belongings, but the friends had to return home. So the couple unloaded their belonging at an empty lot at Kam Lake, and spent two days in their vehicle.

Their furniture - including a couch, chairs, dressers, end tables, a TV and a DVD player - was covered in freezing rain, which warped the wood and destroyed the electronics. Their second day without shelter was Remembrance Day, a statutory holiday, and no one could be reached at Income Assistance.

The Caisses finally got the keys to the apartment on Nov. 12.

Timothee Caisse suffers from prostate cancer and a heart condition. He has plastic knee caps and a battery-powered prosthetic arm, while his wife has severe arthritis and spinal cord problems.