New shelter building eyed
Councillors call on Nunavut government to donate unused facility
Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services
Monday, April 24, 2017
IQALUIT
The Uquutaq men's shelter in Iqaluit will receive $150,000 annually for five years, thanks to the Niksiit Committee's wellness plan, funded with federal money.
"That will certainly help them," said committee co-chair Coun. Terry Dobbin.
Council approved the funding of local organizations April 11.
Michele
City of Iqaluit Coun. Joanasie Akumalik suggested at an April 11 council meeting that the former Akausisarvik Mental Health Centre, which now sits empty, should be used to help alleviate homelessness. - LeTourneau/NNSL photo |
Other recipients of multi-year funding include seven Iqaluit daycares ($35,000), Iqaluit Recreation ($57,729.53), the women's shelter ($57,729.53) and Nanook School's breakfast program ($6,000). An additional $78,404.46 has been set aside for annual proposals.
"It's a start," said Coun. Joanasie Akumalik, a long-time and vocal proponent of the men's shelter.
On his urging, council visited the stressed shelter in January.
Akumalik also proposed to council that the city become more active in helping the shelter acquire a new building.
In February, Uquutaq Shelter Society executive director Doug Cox suggested to Nunavut News/North that taking over the former Akausisarvik Mental Health Centre could help solve some of the issues arising at the shelter, such as lack of space and appropriate housing for some of the men.
"We had a meeting with our local MLAs. There was discussion on homelessness, and on whether the old mental-health building could be donated to the City of Iqaluit for a dollar so that we can make use of that building," said Akumalik.
Akumalik urged Mayor Madeleine Redfern to deal with the proposition by way of a letter to GN ministers.
Cox noted about the building in February, "It's heated, plowed, lights are on."
