New roof overhead
100 People Who Care Inuvik gives more than $5,100 to repair transition house for women
Debbie Gordon-Ruben is thankful for the recent donation from 100 People Who Care and said more funding is always needed to provide a safe place for women. - Kirsten Fenn/NNSL photo
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Kirsten Fenn
Northern News Services
Thursday, September 21, 2017
INUVIK
The Inuvik Transition House Society has been waiting six months for relief from a leaky roof. Now, a local group has stepped up to solve the problem.
Since April, water has been dripping into a room for children, near a window, causing concerns that mould could develop.
On the evening of Sept. 18, a group of caring individuals stepped up to help alleviate the group's worries when they donated more than $5,100 that will go towards repairing the damage.
More money was still rolling in as of press time from people who were unable to attend the meeting, but still wanted to contribute.
"Wow" and "heartwarming" were some of the words Donna Ann Rogers, executive director at the transition house, and Debbie Gordon-Ruben, on the board of directors, used to describe their reaction to the donation.
The money came from 100 People Who Care Inuvik, a group of people who gather every three months to give to a non-profit local charity.
Each member donates $100 and can nominate a local charity to be considered to receive the donation.
Three charities are chosen to give a brief presentation about what they would use the funds for, and then members cast their final vote for the winner.
"I haven't been able to look at it (the leak) for six months because we have no funding," said Rogers, who expressed great thanks for the donation.
Had the transition house not received it, she said, "I would just have to go month by month and see, is there some other miracle that's going to happen."
The local women's shelter not only serves Inuvik, but all communities in the Beaufort Delta and the Sahtu, said Gordon-Ruben.
"That's a huge area of communities that rely on that place to be open - when the women are ready," she said.
With winter just around the corner, the money for the repair has come just in time.
Still, the shelter is experiencing other challenges.
The transition house - designed to house eight - is currently over capacity with 10 people, said Gordon-Ruben.
When this happens, the transition house looks to shelters in Yellowknife or Tuktoyaktuk to help women until space opens up again in Inuvik, she said.
"It's such a huge step for somebody to take to say, 'Okay, I'm going to better myself and my children,'" said Gordon-Ruben.
"I think there is always a need for extra funding when it comes to provide a safe place for women."
This was 100 People Who Care Inuvik's fourth meeting.
The final meeting of the year is expected to take place in December.
