Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services

Cambridge Bay (Feb 25/02) - The Nunavut government has rescued a financially hobbled shelter just as it was about to shut down.

The Department of Health and Social Services bailed out the Cambridge Bay women's crisis shelter at a price of $32,000 the day it was to be shut down, Feb. 19.

Norman Murray, director of child and family services for Nunavut, said the department asked the shelter to send an invoice with the amount as soon as possible.

"We don't want them to close, we need them," said Murray. "This money was identified as emergency money."

The shelter was on the brink of closure the week of Feb. 18 after it was realized it was running $15,000 over-budget and projected the amount would double by the end of the fiscal year on March 31.

The shelter stayed open on the grace of the hamlet of Cambridge Bay for one week but the hamlet could not keep it open indefinitely.

The hamlet funds the shelter through its government transfers and is restricted from running a budget deficit under territorial legislation.

"I was kind of relieved but I knew it was going to stay open," said Daphne Kavanna, shelter co-ordinator who has been with the shelter for two years. "I had a hunch."

Murray said the department will review funding for shelters across the territory.

The shelter housed 119 women over the last year.