Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Nov 30/01) - Plans are under way for the annual Safe House program.

The program, which provides a haven for those wishing to escape from alcohol and drugs, will begin shortly before Christmas and end just after New Year's.

A Safe House program will run again for the Christmas and New Year's holiday period. Derek Lindsay, chair of the Inuvik Alcohol Committee, says the program will likely take place this year at Turning Point. - Malcolm Gorrill/NNSL photo

Derek Lindsay, chair of the Inuvik Alcohol Committee, said on Friday that about $8,000 has been raised so far for this year's program, including a $1,000 donation from the Town of Inuvik. Last year's event cost about $12,000.

Lindsay said this year's event will probably cost less, as the program will likely be run out of Turning Point, the treatment facility run by the Inuvik Alcohol Committee.

"We have no program really going on there, other than just the day program," Lindsay said.

"We can house up to 12 people there. Last year we were at the college and we used some of their rooms, but by doing that it cost us money because we put an extra night person on security over there to make sure nobody was sneaking in whisky or whatever," he said.

"We'll have full time staff on at Turning Point for that two-week period. We'll have somebody there right around the clock."

Noting that people can come and go as they like during Safe House, and that many families drop by during the daytime, Lindsay said about 100 people were fed during last year's program.

"It's open for the entire community. It's there for a clean and sober place to be during the festive season," Lindsay said.

"It costs a fair amount of dollars to feed everyone. There are a lot of homeless people in this town," he said. "We normally just house the ones that don't have anywhere to sleep. But you can't turn anyone away."

Lindsay said the program traditionally gets plenty of support from local businesses in terms of food donations, and that in kind donations are welcome as well in the form of gifts to place under the tree, to be handed out over the duration of the program.