A home for men
Eight-bed shelter opens in Cambridge Bay
Beth Brown
Northern News Services
Saturday, April 1, 2017
IKALUKTUTIAK/CAMBRIDGE BAY
A new men's shelter in Cambridge Bay is helping address homelessness and addictions in the hamlet.
The interior of the Omingmak Men's Shelter in Cambridge Bay. The eight bed shelter opened on Feb. 9. - photo courtesy of Denise LeBleu Images
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The eight bed shelter opened officially on Feb. 9.
The Omingmak Men's Shelter, meaning muskox in Innuinaqtun, is run through the Cambridge Bay Wellness Centre.
"It's going good," said new resident Ernie Nala. "(We're given) the essentials that we need, a roof over our head, food in our stomach."
The shelter is open from 5 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. On weekends and provides breakfast, supper and a snack.
The shelter is open 24 hours on the weekend and on storm days so residents are not stuck out in the elements. Toiletries and essentials are provided.
"We have more people looking for a place to stay, but we assess their situation," said Isaac Mensah, a coordinator at the shelter. "We give priority to completely homeless men."
Recliners at the shelter are available for emergency intake, for anyone who has no place to stay and needs shelter for a night or two. This intake could be for men who are going through abuse or looking to avoid inebriated family members.
The men are on housing lists and the shelter helps with those applications.
Daytime programs are also organized through the shelter, for the men who have not yet found employment. These programs provide lunch and members of the community can also participate.
The men are not required to attend the programming,
"They're adults, the program is there to support them," said Mensah.
Besides arts and cultural workshop, the men learn about healthy living and financial management. They are also taught how to develop resumes and apply for jobs. Mensah said he was helping some of the men apply for their first SIN card.
The residents will soon be doing on the land programming like hiking, camping, hunting and fishing
"They said going on the land brings them healing, it's refreshing for them," he said.
Nala is looking forward to this, saying the hamlet can get a little dull from day to day.
"It would be nice to get out on the land."
He said being at the shelter helps him to stay sober - which is mandatory for living at the shelter and attending the day program.
The residents stay sober so as not to lose those privileges, said Mensah.
"It's reducing the alcohol and drug uses in the community."
"It's beneficial to them, their family and the community."
Centre staff are going through training for addictions support.
"They need help getting out of addiction, it cannot be done by one person. They need help. We are ready to be their support," he said.
Mensah said respect is a priority at the shelter.
"We want them to feel at home."
The shelter was funded through the GN's Ministry of Family Services, as well as by Health Canada and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. The building was donated to the hamlet to be renovated for a shelter.
"It's hoped that further funding can be secured from territorial and federal departments to enable the hamlet to expand the facility, double the capacity and invest in better washroom facilities for the residents," stated Senator Dennis Patterson, who cut the ribbon for the centre opening along with hamlet mayor Jeannie Ehaloak.
"In a territory whose climate is harsh and unforgiving in winter, it is imperative that safe, clean and appropriate shelter be made available to Nunavut's homeless. Sadly, the need is great in these communities due to a lack of traditional housing options in Nunavut," he said.
