Town Councillors are voicing their concerns after the Inuvik Warming Shelter quietly closed its doors May 13 for the summer months, but NWT Housing Corporation says the closure is just to get staff trained.
Coun. Kurt Wainman brought the issue up during the May 12 Town Council meeting.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 still pretty cold out,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭hey do call it a warming shelter. I canSA国际影视传媒檛 see how they can close it during May, it still gets to -10C at night here.
SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e going to have a whole bunch of incidents if we donSA国际影视传媒檛 keep this open until at least June 1.SA国际影视传媒�
Inuvik Town Council rents a building to the Warming Shelter for $1 a year. A second building, now used as the sleeping quarters of the shelter, was donated by the GNWT last October after the Warming Shelter Society nearly shut down amid internal conflicts.
Coun. Wainman also asked the town to request an update on the future of the Warming Shelter.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 an important place,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲hats the plan? (Do) they shut it down forever or just for the summer?SA国际影视传媒�
A spokesperson for the NWT Housing Corporation confirmed the shelter closed on May 13 and stated the closure was consistent with previous years of operation.
Noting the shelter is intended to operate SA国际影视传媒渙nly during the winter months,SA国际影视传媒� the statement goes on to say NWTHC is planning to use the closure to implement new staff training procedures and provide training to current staff.
SA国际影视传媒淭he NWTHC fully supports the Warming Centre and is committed to working together with the Inuvik Community Warming Centre Society in partnership to ensure that this important service continues to operate during the winter months,SA国际影视传媒� reads the statement. SA国际影视传媒淣WTHC sent two staff to visit the centre earlier this spring who then made recommendations to the Board. The staff continue to work with the Board.
SA国际影视传媒淚n the meantime, the Inuvik Homeless Shelter remains open, and community wellness workers are working with individuals experiencing homelessness.SA国际影视传媒�
InuvikSA国际影视传媒檚 Homeless Shelter is considered a SA国际影视传媒榙rySA国际影视传媒� shelter, meaning anyone staying there has to arrive and remain sober for the entirety of the night. The Warming Shelter is a SA国际影视传媒榳etSA国际影视传媒� shelter, open to homeless struggling with addiction issues.
The Warming Centre has been on shaky ground for some time. In October 0f 2020, much of the board resigned following a chaotic meeting filled with accusations thrown at the staff, board members and even people who stay at the shelter. An interim working group was set up to re-start the board. Much of the working group went on to become the new board, which was faced with problems ranging from supplies to the fact the society was undergoing an audit at the time.
Since the new board was elected, the society has kept a very low profile and has not spoken to media.
Town of Inuvik senior administrative officer Grant Hood told council the town was due to have a meeting with the Warming Shelter Board and NWTHC in the near future and he would bring up WainmanSA国际影视传媒檚 concerns then.
