The contractor hired by the territory to host a camp for homeless people last year has been accused of causing thousands of dollars in property damage.

In November last year, the GNWT announced an on-the-land camp for homeless people, in response to a growing homelessness challenge in the territory. The total cost for the operation was more than $640,000, with most of that money coming from the federal government, save about $7,000 from the GNWT. NWT Integration and Community Services (ICS) was the hired contractor.

The on-the-land camp was held at the Camp Connections site, located off the Ingraham Trail at Reid Lake. The camp is well known for hosting summer activities for foster children.

Eric Neba, ICS' executive director, previously told SA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½ the location was isolated with lacklustre cellphone coverage. He added then it was also inadequately prepared for cold weather.

The cost for renting Camp Connections was $140,000, according to one financial document provided to the GNWT that SA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½ was able to obtain. According to further correspondence, ICS is responsible for:

• Incorrectly operating a wood stove which caused large seams on the stove and warped pipes.
• Colliding a Camp Connections-owned Bobcat into an ICS staff vehicle.
• Overworking the camp's Bobcat which needed to be brought into a shop for repairs.
• Damaging the camp's electrical system.
• Damaging a side-by-side vehicle.
• Overheating another stove, causing its seams to split.
• Breaking one of the kitchen's propane oven doors.
• Causing a sewage leak.

The total cost for repairs and replacements covered by Camp Connections is more than $5,400. The total repair and replacement charge backs to the on-the-land program is a little more than $6,600, according to some materials SA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½ obtained. 

"Any damages or repairs that happen on or to the site and its equipment are the responsibility of the program," one statement reads. "With the application of the $5,000 damage deposit, there will be a remaining balance of $1,625.90," a separate note states.

No ICS staff was present for an on-site walk-through for a final inspection of the place, according to these internal documents.

SA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½ tried reaching out to ICS for comment. As of Feb. 21, the phone number on its website was unable to receive calls. Emails sent to the address featured on ICS' website could not be delivered either.

SA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½ used a separate email address it has previously used to correspond with ICS but never received a reply.

When Neba previously spoke to SA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½, he said ICS had a staff of 15 people working at the camp at various times. For operations, which were 24 hours a day, Neba said the amount of people working there would depend on the time of day.

"Minimum should be two support staff and one supervisor on site," Neba previously said, noting everyone he's employed were from Yellowknife.

The Foster Foster Family Coalition of the NWT owns Camp Connections. SA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½ reached out to the coalition for comment but executive director Tammy Roberts declined.

SA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½ also reached out the territory, specifically the Department of Finance. That department has been vocal about ICS and the camp before, but this time, it had nothing to say.

"The GNWT is not involved in any discussions regarding property damage at Camp Connections," Beau Stobbs, a communications officer from the department said. "Any matters related to the site following the On-the-Land Camp initiative would be between Camp Connections and NWT-ICS directly."

The correspondence SA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½ obtained includes GNWT employees in those statements and conversations.