Iqaluit damp shelter staying open for 3 more months

Iqaluit'sdamp shelter, the only dedicated space in the city where intoxicated people can take shelter,will be openfor another three months.

It started as a three-month pilot project in January as part of an initiativefromNunavut's Department of Family Services and has since seen about 170 different people accessingthe shelter.

"The other shelters in town, to be honest, are at capacity and are over capacity," said Matthew Clark, who is part of the Inukshuk Guardians Society, anon-profit organization the government contracted to run the shelter.

Clark prefers to call it a "low-barrier" shelter, instead ofdamp shelter, sayingnot everyone who uses the space is drunk many people just need a place to stay for a few nights.

"I know a lot of people in Iqaluit think it's just for drunk people to go, but it is so much more than that," said Clark.

As many as 20 people a night use the shelter, whichhas a capacity of 17 as well asa few extra emergency beds. The high volume of people using the facility shows the need for the space, said Clark.

When people arrive at the shelter, located at the 534 building, staff find out what brought them thereand explainthe rules. People are then given a cot, pillow, and blanket,with men and women staying in separate rooms.In the morning, everyone is givena cup of coffee and is able tospeak with staff about their needs or gethelp if they need it.

Youth can't access shelter

The shelter is open to anyone 19-years-old orolder. Since the space opened, Clark said they've had about five young people try to access the space.

"You don't necessarily want youth with adults in a facility like that,in terms of safety for them," said Clark.

When youth come to the shelter, Clark said Family Servicesis contacted to take over their care. If they leave before Family Services' staff arrive, the shelter contacts the RCMP to make sure the young person is safe.

"There is no drop-in emergency shelter at this time [for youth] and hopefully in the future there will be," said Clark.

The territorial government spent$130,000 from Family Services' poverty reduction division for the first three months of thepilot project.

CBC requested to speak toMinister of Family ServiceElisapee Sheutiapik, but did not hear back by deadline.

The shelter is scheduled to remain open until June 30.