INUVIK
The Inuvik Homeless Shelter has helped three people get their lives back over the past year, and in recognition of that work, received a boost this month.

Lucy Kuptana, left, and Peggy Day receive a $5,200 donation from 100 People Who Care Inuvik at the group's meeting Monday, June 5. More cheques from people absent from the meeting were expected to come in over the following days. - Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

The shelter helped those three clients pay back housing, cover their arrears and do what they needed to do to get back into their own place to live.

"It's amazing to see them (clients) move on and become independent again, but it's kind of sad to because they're like a large family at the homeless shelter supporting each other," said Lucy Kuptana, who along with Peggy Day gave a pitch at the 100 People Who Care Inuvik's third meeting Monday, June 5.

100 People Who Care Inuvik is a community organization that meets quarterly to donate to local charities and non-profit groups. Each meeting, three groups make presentations about why they could use a donation. Members then vote and $100 from every member goes to the winning group.

Kuptana and Day presented on behalf of the Inuvik Homeless Shelter. Patricia Davison of the Children First Centre and Cheryl Zaw of the Inuvik Youth Centre also pitched their cases.

100 People awarded the homeless shelter with its donation this time around. The shelter received $5,200 at the meeting, with more likely to come in from absent members over the next week.

"We're so grateful," said Kuptana afterward, who let out a few tears. "We're very shocked."

The shelter aims to provide a safe haven for people who have no home, with the goal that clients can transition back into living in their own place. Everyone who enters the shelter must be sober.

For the past few years, the shelter has been keeping itself afloat using past reserves. It has been challenged to raise money in the poor economy.

"Even to make payroll is difficult," said Kuptana. "We're lucky that we have some strong volunteers and people from the community. We have a core group of people who keep the shelter running."

Day said the shelter is always looking for more volunteers. She was thankful to receive the donation.

"We're really happy," she said. "Just a big thank you to the community for recognizing that the shelter is a good, safe place for our clients."

100 People Who Care Inuvik has also donated to the Inuvik Food Bank and Arctic Paws.

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