Reprieve for warming centre
Resident reacts to threat of 'safest place in town' possibly closing its doors
Sarah Ladik
Northern News Services
Thursday, July 7, 2016
INUVIK
The Inuvik Emergency Warming Centre was getting ready to close its doors July 15. Then, funding from the territorial government apparently came through at the last minute.
Sonny Arey, left, accepts supper from Sylvia Firth at the Inuvik Emergency Warming Centre on July 4. - Sarah Ladik/NNSL photo
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"We're still waiting for responses on our funding proposals from the GNWT," said warming centre manager Joey Amos June 4, the day before he got word that the health minister and other members of the legislative assembly came out in support of the centre. "We're optimistic we'll get it, but you never know."
While the centre was originally meant to function only as a stopgap to house inebriated clients in the coldest months of the year when the RCMP stopped being able to take them into cells without charging them, Amos and the board of directors have been working towards staying open all year round for some time.
Usually, the centre closes its doors sometime in May and re-opens in October or November.
"We have outstanding bills, and we want to be able to pay our staff," Amos said, adding that the various branches of the GNWT had not anticipated making any funding decisions before August. "If and when we get our funding, we'll recall our staff and open again."
Still, for some, a gap in services would have been be rough. Sonny Arey is a resident of the centre and has been for several winters.
"As long as you got mosquito dope, you can go to sleep under a building," he said. "This is the most friendliest place for me."
Despite saying he didn't mind sleeping rough in the summer months, Arey also said he would miss the centre if it had closed, calling it a "safe house."
"It'd be nice if it was open. Sure beats the drunk tank."
Having spent time as a resident of the centre when it was in the Anglican Church, Arey said he has seen a big difference since it took over the Berger Building last year.
He also said he anticipates being a resident of the centre again when the cold weather comes back.
"It's the safest place in town," he said.
Amos said the centre staying open six weeks longer than usual was still progress made, but that any break in services would have likely meant starting from scratch for some of the residents working towards recovery from addictions.
"We've developed really good relationships with the guys who are really trying to find work, some of them are trying to even finish schooling," he said. "It's always been my goal to find the funds to be open year round."
