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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
For Yellowknife's homeless population the long and cold Northern winter can seem even longer and colder.

Brian Birch, director of programming at the Yellowknife Salvation Army, says there are many organizations in Yellowknife working to make sure no one slips through the cracks. - Danielle Sachs/NNSL photo

Fortunately, the shelters in the city are staffed with people and volunteers who work tirelessly to make sure Yellowknife's homeless and vulnerable populations are cared for.

"We try hard to make sure everything is covered and people always have a warm place to stay during the cold winter months," said Brian Birch, the director of programming at the Yellowknife Salvation Army.

There are three mat rooms that fit 10 people each, the cafeteria is turned into an overflow room, and there are 10 bunks in the Extra Choice room. Extra Choice acts almost as a transition wing, where residents stay while taking programs, courses, working or applying to Bailey House.

The Salvation Army shelter is open from 7 p.m. until 7 a.m., with a curfew of 11 p.m. But if someone is banging on the door trying to get in out of the cold, they won't be turned away, said Birch.

While there is an 11 p.m. curfew, the rules have some flexibility.

"If someone was banging on the door trying to get in we'd ask if they were aware of the curfew. Other than that no one is left out, you have to keep people safe," said Birch.

There's nothing the RCMP can do to force people to go to a shelter overnight, said Sgt. Peter Pilgrim.

"My understanding is that if and when we can take a person to a shelter, they will be taken there," said Pilgrim.

"If we held someone without lawful authority, we don't have the grounds to put anyone in our care. It's totally against our policy. Those are the situations where we would get in trouble. Each individual case is looked at separately and each person is cared for as best as we can."

The RCMP can't bring someone into holding cells unless they are caught doing something against the law. There's no set temperature where people are collected off the street and brought somewhere warm and safe.

The Centre for Northern Families will also never turn anyone away, said Mira Hall. However, like the Salvation Army, there are certain rules the clients have to follow.

"All of our rules are decided with the residents. We have monthly meetings with the residents and they determine what the house rules are. It's not a hierarchy of us telling them what to do," said Hall.

It helps the residents take ownership over the space and they agree many of the rules are common sense, like no abusive behaviour and no drunkenness between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., while the Dene Ko Day Shelter is open.

"We don't allow intoxicated people here while the day shelter is open, we have a daycare here. The women themselves said children shouldn't be seeing these things," said Hall.

The Centre for Northern Families has beds available for emergency use but they won't leave anyone out in the cold so there are gym mats available for overflow.

The numbers of people using the beds at the Centre for Northern Families don't seem to be based on the weather, said Hall.

In July 2012 there were 476 bed nights, and the numbers were the same in December 2012.

When the Salvation Army shelter is closed during the day, or when people are drunk and looking for somewhere to warm up while the daycare is open at the Centre for Northern Families, the Dene Ko Day Shelter fills in the gaps.

"We have around 60 people per day year round," said Lydia Bardak, executive director of the John Howard Society which runs the shelter.

There isn't a huge difference in the amount of people that use the shelter between the summer months and the winter months. The major difference is the length of time people will spend inside, said Bardak.

"In the summer, people are in and out while in the winter they'll stay inside for a longer period," she said.

"It's not only the homeless population in Yellowknife that uses the day shelter," said Bardak.

There are individuals who are trying to maintain a sober environment at home and will come to the shelter to see their friends, socialize or stop by for something to eat because they don't always have enough money for food.

The organizations in Yellowknife work well together, said Birch. Although the Sally Ann technically closes at 7 a.m., there have been times it has stayed open all day if the day shelter had to close.

"We have a great relationship with the day shelter and with the RCMP," said Birch.

Even though the Salvation Army shelter is technically closed during the day, the bathroom, shower and laundry facilities are still open for anyone who may need to use them.

"As far as shelter over this cold season, we don't want to turn anyone away," said Birch.

"They've always got a place to go. We're open and we want to see them."

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