Jenny Gibbons describes the last few years as nothing short of a whirlwind.

Precarious housing is a reality for her SA国际影视传媒� she does not have ready access to a telephone SA国际影视传媒� but she remains at the forefront of a growing campaign to open a new homeless shelter in Arviat.

Gibbons said her own experience with precarious housing inspired her to help others.

SA国际影视传媒淚 didnSA国际影视传媒檛 have any place to go,SA国际影视传媒� she said of a housing situation she faced several years ago.

She turned to social services SA国际影视传媒渂ut they just told us that thereSA国际影视传媒檚 no place for people like me when I needed a place to stay,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淎nd while I was going through that, I started seeing people going through the same thing and it hurt me a lot and I know how it feels.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 when I started thinking that we need a shelter in our community,SA国际影视传媒� she continued.

In 2019, she took part in Inspire Nunavut, an entrepreneurial leadership and employment skills program.

After considering a number of business ideas, from hairdressing to recreation, Gibbons decided a shelter in the community to address its social problems was needed.

Today, organizers are looking at funding resources and fundraising ideas to support the concept of a permanent shelter in the community.

Gibbons said Lindsay Turner, director of poverty reduction at NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 Department of Family Services, and her team have been helping with planning and support at this early stage.

SA国际影视传媒淭he project as weSA国际影视传媒檙e looking at it now, itSA国际影视传媒檚 really in its infancy,SA国际影视传媒� said organizer Amanda Hanson Main. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e just getting started and trying to amass a board of directors and then we can proceed with applying for funding and that, unfortunately, could probably go on for a while.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淭here is nothing right now in Arviat,SA国际影视传媒� she continued. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e the third largest population center in the territory, and we do not have a shelter. But we have already a lot of interest in the community from residents who are interested in sitting on the board of directors.SA国际影视传媒�

In terms of a location for the shelter, Hanson Main said SA国际影视传媒渢here isnSA国际影视传媒檛 much in Arviat in terms of available real estate that would be ideal or even adequate for this purpose.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淗opefully, there are funding pots that are available that would support building something new from the ground up,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 pretty exciting to think that that could be reality.SA国际影视传媒�

An Arviat resident for six years, Hanson Main works in environmental assessment and community engagement, SA国际影视传媒渟o a little bit removed from shelters and social programsSA国际影视传媒� but nevertheless thinks this is an important project because SA国际影视传媒渢he social services are really lackingSA国际影视传媒� in Nunavut, she said.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen Jenny (Gibbons) and I happened to bump into each other, early on we identified that we have this shared passion and compassion for people that are experiencing homelessness or experiencing domestic situations that might warrant a need for a place to stay,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Homelessness remains a problem in the territory

In 2018, the Government of NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 Department of Family Services released the Nunavut Hidden Homelessness Survey and found over 400 people in Arviat, Gjoa Haven, Pond Inlet and Clyde River were experiencing some form of precarious housing.

Of the total, 146 were in Arviat.

Residents with no place to stay turn to SA国际影视传媒渇riends, families and relatives. But something more structured SA国际影视传媒� something that has support services SA国际影视传媒� for people experiencing those sorts of harsh crises is needed,SA国际影视传媒� said Hanson Main.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the communitySA国际影视传媒檚 lack of comprehensive services when it comes to homelessness, said Hanson Main.

SA国际影视传媒淒uring this pandemic, the rates of domestic violence and difficulties with mental health have really risen,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淎nd not having places for people to go to in crisis is a major limitation.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淯ltimately, the people who are often the most impacted are children,SA国际影视传媒� she continued. SA国际影视传媒淲hether that means your child is living in a house thatSA国际影视传媒檚 overcrowded, or whether a child is living with a parent who is homeless and has to bounce around between homes, I think that that type of instability is really demoralizing and hard for people and families.SA国际影视传媒�