Council rescinds shelter handouts

Iqaluit city council rescinded two motions this past Tuesday that would have delivered tens of thousands of dollars to the Illitiit Society, the group that recently lost control of Iqaluit’s Oqota shelter for homeless people.

But it’s likely that the money will eventually be spent on operating the homeless shelter anyway. That’s because the Salvation Army, which took over the operation of the shelter as of April 1, may now re-apply for the funds.

The Nunavut Housing Corp., which owns the shelter building, ended its agreement with Illitiit on March 31. The Salvation Army has since taken over the job of running the shelter.

But early last month, acting on recommendations made by its Niksiit Committee, council voted to give $76,388 for the Oqota shelter, and $147,829 to operate a house for troubled teenagers called the “youth cottage.” At the time, they didn’t seem to know that both services were deeply in debt.

Soon after, however, councillors found out that the Illitiit Society was a financial ruin. Coun. Nancy Gillis then asked council to reconsider the motion, on the grounds that “new information had come to light.”

At this week’s council meeting, Gillis said she wants to make sure the money actually pays for homeless shelter operations, and isn’t used to pay down old debt.

The money in question comes from the federal government, but is administered by the city.

Meanwhile, Bill Riddell, the chair of the Illitiit Society, said in a press release that his group will donate all of the Oqota Shelter’s furniture to the Salvation Army.