DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE
The CEO of a non-profit organization tasked with alleviating homelessness in Fort Providence says more money is needed.

Pat Mazerolle, of Community Advancement Partnership Society in Fort Providence, said the initial goal was to put up six to eight single units, each of which would house a single person or a couple but that it's looking like the organization would need 10 or 12.

"We're not even close," Mazerolle said about the organization's fundraising project.

Right now, the short-term goal is to find a way to make at least a few units available by the end of September.

"We don't know how many yet," he said. "We're just trying to get the word out."

The project started in November and had the goal to fundraise $500,000.

The biggest fundraiser for the Community Advancement Partnership Society so far has been the weekly ongoing Chase the Ace game, a type of raffle where each week a person is drawn for a chance to pull the Ace of Spades out of the deck and win the jackpot.

He said with Fort Providence being so small, most fundraisers that would work elsewhere aren't as effective.

This week the deck was down to 22 cards left and so far the organization has raised about $6,800.

"That's just a fraction of what we need," he said.

Mazerolle said there are other ways the organization could get funding, such as through income assistance, but that they're still waiting to hear back from the territorial government. As of press time, the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation could not be reached for comment.

Meanwhile, Mazerolle said the organization is conducting interviews for candidates in need of housing.

For Mazerolle, "homelessness" doesn't capture the fullness of what is going on in Fort Providence.

"We're trying to get the people here to self-identify as in need of proper housing," said Mazerolle.

Mazerolle's organization is trying to build a transitional housing complex for the community but said it hasn't been smooth and that the organization is still far from building the structure.

People who are couch surfing, living in shacks, or living under other structures are also in need of a proper shelter, said Mazerolle.

Apart from funding, another issue Mazerolle has been facing is getting people to self-identify.

He said it's tricky because people don't want to admit the reality of their situation and Mazerolle doesn't want to interfere too much and tell people they need the housing.

"Right now, we're looking at 11 people looking for units for sure that we know," he said.

"There's another 16 or 17 that's been referred."

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