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INUVIK
There needs to be more effort bridging the gaps and communicating between social services offered in the region and across the NWT, according to participants at a panel discussion on Monday at the Mackenzie Hotel.

Julie Green, director of community relations for the YWCA Yellowknife, discusses Inuvik Food Bank issues with Margaret Miller, left, after a discussion Monday on issues of homelessness and poverty in Inuvik. - Danielle Sachs/NNSL photo

Ending Wednesday, there were non-stop meetings and discussions held in Inuvik by the Anti-Poverty Strategy Steering Committee. Its goal is to develop an anti-poverty strategy for the NWT, which is scheduled to be presented to the GNWT sometime next year.

"We value this input," said Julie Green, director of community relations for the YWCA and moderator of the discussion on behalf of the No Place for Poverty Commission. "It has to be for everybody, from Yellowknife to the smallest community; we can't leave anyone out."

The panel aimed to give participants some insight into what it's like trying to provide services in Inuvik on a day-to-day basis. The Inuvik participants came from a variety of services around town: Margaret Miller, treasurer of the Inuvik Food Bank; Bob Simpson from the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation; Alana Mero, current councillor and active volunteer; Mary Ann Ross, outgoing chair of the Inuvik Interagency Committee; and Loretta Rogers from the Inuvik Homeless Shelter.

The biggest key to working toward eradicating poverty and homelessness is working on a partnership between services, said Ross.

"We cannot do this on our own. With a stronger partnership there can be a better service provided," said Ross.

Not knowing where to turn for help is another barrier to providing services for people, said Rogers. With limited staff there's no one to let shelter clients know where they can go for the next step, whether it's to seek addiction treatment or apply for housing.

"There are some people who don't even have ID and they can't apply for housing or benefits without that," she said.

The shelter has between 20 and 25 clients on a daily basis and is closed between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Rogers would like to see it open during the day so people could have a warm place to stay instead of walking around town, but currently staffing and funding doesn't allow it.

"It's hard on the clients and the volunteers," she said.

The shelter is a non-profit organization. Its funding comes from the government and through fundraising. Rogers estimates that since June five people have transitioned into housing.

"What helps people move out of poverty is giving them the supports they need," said Ross. "That can be help filling out forms and just treating people with respect when they need help."

Integrated services are the key to that, said Mero.

"We expect people to just go around and find those pieces on their own and that's just not possible. We need to find an easier way to line those pieces up."

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