With the final piece in place, the Uquutaq Society is moving forward with its plan to vastly expand its offering for homeless men in Iqaluit.
Michele LeTourneau/NNSL photo
Executive director Laurel McCorriston said as much Sept. 24 after learning the Canadian Mortgage Housing Corporation (CMHC) will fund its application to purchase buildings 1077 and 1079 in Iqaluit for $7.5 million.
SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 a lot of services, money, resources put towards women and children but thereSA国际影视传媒檚 really nothing for the men. And they feel like theySA国际影视传媒檝e been left behind. This is something thatSA国际影视传媒檚 going to bring light to the men,SA国际影视传媒� said operations manager Erika Alexander.
Roughly 40 per cent of the homeless men who currently use the decrepit shelter in Iqaluit are between the ages of 18 and 34. They are from all over the Qikiqtaaluk region and other communities in the territory.
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SA国际影视传媒淢ost of the people in the shelter stay here for an average of four years. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 one guy who has been here on and off SA国际影视传媒� he came when he was 16 and heSA国际影视传媒檚 30. That really punched me in the stomach when I found out about that. Just imagine what that would do to your life,SA国际影视传媒� said McCorriston.
The project to take over buildings 1077 and 1079 will see the shelter continue to house up to 60 men, but will also offer transitional housing and affordable housing. Programming, still being developed, will help lead the men through each step. Market housing will help cover costs.
This is no small feat, as Nunavut is currently the only jurisdiction in Canada without transitional housing. McCorriston says Iqaluit Mayor Madeleine Redfern was instrumental in moving the project forward.
SA国际影视传媒淪he submitted the CMHC application. And she raised most of those funds. This project would not be happening without Madeleine,SA国际影视传媒� said McCorriston.
While the building wonSA国际影视传媒檛 be ready until sometime in March, McCorristonSA国际影视传媒檚 staff is currently helping the men conduct self-assessments.
McCorriston says the programming will be designed for the needs expressed by the men in transitional housing SA国际影视传媒� for those who are ready.
SA国际影视传媒淎nd a lot of the young men are ready already. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 an issue of how much money they make compared to the rental market,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
As well, the wait list for social housing is four to five years, with two and three bedroom units being built by the Nunavut Housing Corporation rather than the one-bedroom units a single man would occupy.
Asked what the men think about the project, McCorriston says they are happy about the new buildings.
SA国际影视传媒淭he programming, not so sure. TheySA国际影视传媒檝e never really been focused on before. When theySA国际影视传媒檙e doing the self-assessments, theySA国际影视传媒檙e responsive,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
Alexander says itSA国际影视传媒檚 important the men share as much as possible so the staff can develop programming thatSA国际影视传媒檚 right for them.
SA国际影视传媒淚f you ask, do you need to go the hospital? They might say no. But you ask follow-up questions and you find out they do need to go to the hospital, they just dismiss it. So theySA国际影视传媒檙e not self-aware of some of their own needs. So weSA国际影视传媒檙e really focusing on the needs of the guys and trying to ensure that we cover all aspects, to ensure that theySA国际影视传媒檙e not dismissive of their needs,SA国际影视传媒� Alexander said.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a mixture of all of it SA国际影视传媒� being left behind, no-one ever caring, no-one ever asking how theySA国际影视传媒檙e doing.SA国际影视传媒�
The assessments take from 45 to 90 minutes, and include questions tailored to Inuit that arenSA国际影视传媒檛 found in standard self-assessments, such as their place in the family or the community.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 also building relationships with the guys so theySA国际影视传媒檙e more comfortable with the staff, building professional relationships and trust,SA国际影视传媒� said Alexander.
McCorriston says so far the approach with homeless men has been SA国际影视传媒渨arehousing.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淛ust giving them accommodation. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 a big change for this organization and a big change for them. I think theySA国际影视传媒檙e happy,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
SA国际影视传媒淚 know we could say I worked in transitional housing down south and I know what it is and I know what worked, and we could just do that. And we kind of get pushed by the circumstance of these new buildings and funding to try and make this program, but I keep saying letSA国际影视传媒檚 make it the way that itSA国际影视传媒檚 going to most benefit the guys, and it comes from the men who live here. I said that to (Iqaluit city) council my first week, and ISA国际影视传媒檓 sticking with it no matter what the pressures are.
SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 just too much top-down, generally speaking.SA国际影视传媒�
Both women, whose backgrounds are in housing, say that when you gain housing itSA国际影视传媒檚 easier to build and maintain an independent life.
The CMHC funding is thanks to the Liberal governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 National Housing Strategy Co-Investment Fund.
Other partners in the project are the Government of NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 Department of Family Services, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., the Qikiqtani Inuit Association, Employment and Social Development Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, which variously contributed to the down payment or other funding needs.
