Conference focuses on homelessness
NWT Association of Communities passes resolution calling on support from GNWT
Shawn Giilck
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, May 15, 2014
INUVIK
The NWT Association of Communities and the GNWT might be coming to loggerheads over the burgeoning issue of homelessness.
Inuvik councillor Clarence Wood lost his bid to become president of the NWT Association of Communities May 10 at the Midnight Sun Recreation Complex. He would retain his seat as one of two vice-presidents for the organization. - Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo
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Association members unanimously endorsed a resolution put forward on May 10 for the GNWT to fully fund all homeless shelters in the communities.
A section of the resolution stated "homelessness represents the most extreme form of poverty and deprivation, and has increased in recent years in virtually all member communities.
"The Northwest Territories is witnessing an unprecedented increase in homelessness," it added.
The text of the resolution went on to state that "there is increasing evidence that housing-led approaches to homelessness are the most effective and the immediate responsibility for addressing homeless lies with the Government of the Northwest Territories."
While there was no discussion over the motion when it was voted on, the resolution and homelessness were major components of an open forum between the association and GNWT cabinet ministers.
It was clear after comments from Municipal and Community Affairs Minister Robert C. McLeod, who is also Inuvik Twin Lakes MLA, that there was little appetite for the resolution on his part.
McLeod said the government is providing $350,000 this year for four pilot projects dealing with homelessness. He resisted the idea of fully funding every homeless shelter, saying the issue "was a big problem" that couldn't be solved easily.
"With the budget that we have, we have $350,000 total in that budget, and this is a big initiative, one that we're not going to be able to solve overnight," McLeod said of the resolution. "We're going to have to take a few steps at a time. We're always looking at different options, and we explore them and see if they will work up here. We'll have to have a discussion on this."
McLeod added the GNWT hired a new homelessness coordinator last August who is still in the process of researching and gathering information on the topic.
"Part of her job is to gather as much information as possible on this subject," he said.
Health and Social Services Minister Glen Abernethy said "homelessness is not just a government responsibility.
"We are working collaboratively on anti-poverty frameworks," he said. "Battling poverty and addressing poverty isn't just a government responsibility, it's a responsibility of all of us around this table and across the NWT. It can't be just a government of the NWT response. It needs to be the responsibility of all of us. In the meantime there is $500,000 in our budget available to the communities and you need to make some submissions."
There was no comment on the issue from any of the Inuvik community representatives who were in attendance. Last December, a new "emergency warming shelter" opened under a partnership with various Inuvik agencies, including the town, to help relieve the pressure on the existing homeless shelter. That kind of project is likely the kind of initiative the GNWT officials were looking for to help tackle homelessness on a local level.
In other news from the association annual general meeting, which was held over four days at the Midnight Sun Recreation Complex, Inuvik councillor Clarence Wood lost his bid to become the association president.
Wood, who is currently one of the vice-presidents for the organization, has served on the board for several years.
He lost the election to Aklavik Mayor Charlie Furlong.
Furlong said his priorities would be to "revisit all of the resolutions coming out and to categorize them and prioritize them.
"One of my priorities will be to increase the capacity of community level resources to make sure they keep on par with the rest of the North, and to continue working on the strategic plan," Furlong said.
"As a mayor, I understand the difficulties we sometimes have reaching the ear of Yellowknife. I figure with the experience I have, I can work with the various agencies in Yellowknife. Together we can try to build a more healthy community and a more comfortable life for people."
