Iqaluit (Oct 09/06) - Qimaavik, Iqaluit's transition house for women, will close next spring unless the society that runs the shelter can find a way out from under a crushing debt load and annual budget deficits.

The Iqaluit women's shelter has a meagre eight dollars left in its bank account, and the facility may consequently close by spring. Here, Tanya-Louise Campbell, a victim assistance worker at Qimaavik Transition House, and crisis councillor Annie Onalik sit in front of the shelter's doors. - Chris Windeyer/NNSL photo Factors leading to the closure include annually accumulating debt, ever changing leadership and board instability, relentless human resource challenges, a severe lack of operational funding, the inability of the organization to engage in large scale fundraising and the inability to fairly compete for the skilled workforce that is critical in providing professional and accountable services. -Source: Baffin Regional Agvvik Society news release

The Baffin Regional Agvvik Society announced last week that Qimaavik will stop taking clients Jan. 31 and shut its door by the end of next March.

"We get $600,000 a year and we have eight dollars in the bank as of last week," society board director Sheila Levy said in an interview.

That $600,000 comes from the Department of Health and Social Services and Levy says the shelter needs roughly $200,000 more per year.

Under its current budget, Qimaavik can't afford to pay staff competitive salaries or offer staff housing. It also can't offer a complete range of services for women escaping violence, Levy said. Staffers at the facility need suicide prevention and crisis management training, she noted.

"Because of the pressure on the board and on the staff et cetera about the money all the time, it takes its toll on everybody," Levy said.

A 52-year-old mother who's staying at the shelter with her young child said without Qimaavik, women like her would be forced to move from place to place, constantly looking over her shoulder for her abuser.

She's been in and out of the shelter for "the longest time," and said daily talks with counsellors and fellow clients, plus a daily regime of chores, helps her cope with her predicament.

"Yes, it has helped me so much," she said. "If there was no women's shelter up here, there would be (a) lot of ladies dying from being physically and mentally abused."

Health and Social Services Minister Leona Aglukkaq said department staff met with the society's board members Sept. 25 to talk about options for saving the shelter.

The government owns the facility - located in the Apex subdivision - and may consider taking over operations itself or offering the contract to another service organization, Aglukkaq said.

"A women's facility is needed and will remain open," she told reporters Wednesday. "It's just that at this point in time we cannot speak to who will operate the facility."

Aglukkaq said the department could issue a request for proposals to find a new operator, but she wouldn't commit to additional funding for the shelter. Levy said the society will hear back by Oct. 23, and remains optimistic the department will find a solution.

Tanya-Louise Campbell, a victim assistance worker at Qimaavik, said the shelter isn't looking for a lot of extra cash from the government.

"It's not that we're asking for a huge amount of money more, just enough to keep qualified people on staff, enough to pay workers that are already here," she said. "There's no housing available, there's no benefits...basically people are working here because it's a cause that's close to their hearts."

The facility has 21 beds, which are almost always full. Right now there are 10 women, plus their children staying at the shelter, Campbell said.

Jennifer Dickson, executive director of Pauktuutit, Inuit Women of Canada, said her organization is willing to help find a solution to the problems facing Qimaarvik. Like Aglukkaq, Dickson said it's vital the shelter stays open.

"It can't be solved on the heads of the women they're trying to serve," she said.