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Iqaluit City Council Allocates Funds for COVID-19 Homelessness Response
April 6, 2020 (Iqaluit, Nunavut) – The City of Iqaluit’s first priority is its staff and residents.
The City of Iqaluit continues to work closely with the Canadian Government to assist our community in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic.
On March 18, 2020, the Prime Minister announced that the Government of Canada would be providing Reaching Home, a community-based program aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness, with an additional $157.5 million to support people experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 outbreak. Community Entities will receive funding to support their COVID-19 response capacity and prevent the infection from spreading amongst those experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, homelessness.
The Government of Canada has committed $600,000 to Iqaluit under Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan to support people experiencing and at risk of homelessness, for 2020-2021. These funds will be allocated based on need to current Reaching Home recipients. The funding is expected to start flowing in early April and can be used for a range of needs such as purchasing beds, personal protective equipment, staffing dollars, and physical barriers for physical distancing, or securing accommodation to reduce overcrowding in shelters.
On April 6, the City of Iqaluit Council approved the allocation of funds earmarked to support people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness during the COVID-19 outbreak. The following allocations were approved:
- $200,000 for Uquutaq Society (Men’s Shelter) to support the operation of additional shelter space for vulnerable and elderly men. This is in addition to a $100,000 contribution allocated to the Society in March.
- $90,000 to support the YWCA Agvvik Women’s Shelters to secure additional isolation space.
- $15,000 for the YWCA Agvvik Women’s Shelter for supplies such as bedding, towels etc.
- $46,200 to the support the Qajuqturvik Food Centre with its operations and to purchase supplies for take out/food distribution.
- $148,800 is dedicated as an emergency contingency fund to be distributed as needed for the COVID response to address concerns around homelessness and those at risk of becoming homeless.
The City of Iqaluit wishes to thank the organizations involved in providing services to members of our community who are experiencing, or are at risk of experiencing, homelessness.
For additional information, please contact:
Rod Mugford
City Clerk
City of Iqaluit
979-5600