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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Michelle Frost says she doesn't like having to ask for help, but that's what she is looking for after two bouts of pneumonia left her unable to work and unable to pay her bills.

Single mother Michelle Frost fears she will be evicted after falling one month behind in her rent at Garden Townhomes and Apartments. It's been two months since she's been able go to work at her job at Sam's Monkey Tree, after falling ill with pneumonia in late August. It's her second bout with pneumonia since June, she said. - Kevin Allerston/NNSL photo

She first became sick in June, but figured it was just stress until her doctor told her how serious her condition was in July. She had only just recovered when she was again diagnosed with pneumonia in early September.

Frost is a single mother supporting three teenage children, as well as two people who have nowhere else to stay. She is currently one month behind paying her rent, and was recently served with a summons for a rental board hearing.

"I understand that they need their rent. I totally get it. It's not like I'm not trying to pay the rent," said Frost.

"I went to Social Services for help and they still haven't done anything. I've talked to income support, they still haven't done anything.

"I'm doing everything I can with my options to make things easier. But I'm sick, I can't help it," said Frost.

She said she hates being in this position, that it is embarrassing and that she prefers to be the one helping people.

Frost said she is thankful to Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins, who contacted the department that administers Income Security - Education, Culture and Employment - on her behalf.

"The regional manager of income support contacted me and he (said) he's going to put the rush on to see if he can help me," said Frost.

Recovering from pneumonia isn't the only malady facing Frost, she says.

"I never even had a full month-and-a-half grace and yesterday I had my mammogram results come in and they think I have breast cancer," said Frost.

"And when you go to Social Services and these places for help and they make you look like you're doing something wrong, like it's your fault ... it hurts. They told me, 'We don't believe you and it's your own fault for taking on all these people and they should be doing their part'."

Frost said she has looked for other places to live but hasn't found one she can afford that would allow her to keep her dog Noel, her companion throughout her days at home.

Before falling ill in June, Frost was working part-time as a bouncer at Sam's Monkey Tree, after being laid off from her baggage handler position at the airport in April. Losing the job at the airport meant she had to move to her less expensive, current apartment.

Frost said she has few resources and is not receiving any child support or public housing. She is on employment insurance (EI) and receives $1,500 a month, but that isn't enough for her to pay $2,020 in rent each month.

Gloria Iatridis, director of Income Security for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, said while she can't speak to specific cases, there are options for people in circumstances like Frost's.

"There are cases where people have income, they work, they are low-income earners, they maybe already are drawing down on employment insurance, but it's not enough to cover all they need and so we can provide top-ups based on their situation. So that's one source of additional income," said Iatridis.

She also pointed to federal benefits designed to help people make ends meet.

"There's also a number of federal benefits out there that help support low-income families. There's the National Child Benefit, a component of that is the NWT Child Benefit that's tacked onto the national benefit," said Iatridis.

"It's an additional supplement for low-income earners. So it helps support parents who have children and they are low-income earners or they may not have any income, so it provides an additional resource," she said.

For people facing the possibility of homelessness, there is also the Homelessness Assistance Fund provided through the Department of Health and Social Services.

Frost said she doesn't know what she is going to do if she doesn't receive any additional funding and the rental board decides to evict her, but said she may move back to Cold Lake, Alta.

NPR Limited Partnership, owner of Garden Townhomes, declined to comment for this story.

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