Inuvik's damp shelter reopens in new location

Inuvik's damp shelter opened its doors in a new location Monday night after months of uncertainty about where its clients would go to keep warm this winter.

This month Inuvik Town Council agreed to donate the Berger Building to the shelter for $1 a year after the Anglican Church said it could no longer afford to host the Emergency Warming Centre in its parish hall. 

"Two months ago they didn't have a building to operate out of," said Joey Amos, the shelter's acting manager.

"It's amazing what happens when you have a group of people working together." 

The new location has a kitchen, washrooms and separate sleeping areas for men and women. It also has a couple of offices that can be used for future wellness and outreach programs to help target the problems of addictions that its clients face.

Clients also won't have to leave the centre immediately at 8 a.m., as in the past. Now they'll be able to stay until 11 a.m.

"We would rather have them inside the building rather than having them feel they have to leave," said Amos.

"This centre is their home."

Because of that, Amos said clients will be asked to clean up the centre and do chores while they stay.

In the past the centre has been criticized for possibly enabling its clients' addictions by offering shelter but not any counselling programs.

At the moment the centre will only offer a place to sleep, dinner and breakfast but Amos said he hopes it will eventually offer counselling and on-going addictions treatment.

"With the right people and with the outreach workers within the community, we can do that," he said.

"I think we can prove to the town of Inuvik that if we have the right people in place we can make a difference."