Inuvik's emergency shelter and search and rescue both want use of Berger building

Inuvik's emergency warming centre needs a new home and is asking the town to use one of its unoccupied office buildings, but the shelter had some competition at a town council meeting Monday night.

For the last two years the town's damp shelter has provided a refuge for the town's homeless population, whether they're sober or drunk, when the temperatures dip dangerously low. It's been looking for a new location for its 10 to 15 clients since June, when the Anglican church said it could no longer house the shelter.

"We don't want any other persons to freeze to death or to fall victim to frostbite as has happened in the past," said Sheila O'Kane, the shelter's secretary, Monday night.

The shelter wants to start operating out of the Berger Building as soon as possible and has offered the town $2,800 a month to cover the heat and electricity.

Once the shelter has a home, O'Kane says it will apply for a grant from the N.W.T. Housing Corporation so it can put in a kitchen and showers and purchase a washing machine.

The Berger Building is currently used to store equipment for the town's cadet program, which is no longer functioning.

Searchers need storage

Inuvik's Ground Search and Rescue is also asking town council to use the Berger Building.

The group wants to store gear such as snowmobiles, tents, rations and radios, so it's easily accessible when they're deployed.

The group has had trouble quickly assembling for searches, like this September when a six-year-old boy went missing, but was later found at a friend's.

"We were unable to access some of these supplies that were needed because we store them in members' houses and in our executives' houses," said John Moore, a member of the group.

Inuvik's town council will make a decision Thursday — either on which group will use the building, or whether to postpone the decision for further study.

Councillors Clarence Wood and Vince Sharpe said they were in favour of giving the building to the emergency warming centre, with Sharpe offering to donate a washer and dryer.

However, councillor Steven Baryluk wants more clarification on how much space both groups will need.