Shelter Initiative for Inuit women and children

Eligibility

Financial Support

Application Support Guides

About Shelters

Inuit women, children and gender-diverse Inuit face unique challenges and barriers to housing. For those who experience gender-based violence, a shelter is often the first step to accessing safety and taking the first steps in rebuilding their lives and breaking a cycle of violence.

Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada has long been calling on the federal government to urgently provide shelters for Inuit women. In 2020, Pauktuutit advocated for a $20 million commitment towards the building of shelters and second‐stage transitional housing in Inuit Nunagat and in Ottawa for Inuit women and children escaping violence.

In January 2021, The government of Canada committed to fund the construction and operation of shelters for Inuit women and children across Inuit Nunangat as well as in urban centres.

Funding for the new Inuit specific shelters is part of the comprehensive Violence Prevention Strategy as announced in the 2020 Fall Economic Statement. The strategy will also support new shelters and transitional (second-stage) housing for First Nations, Inuit and Métis across the country, including in the North and in urban areas.

The federal government has funding available for Inuit organizations to build and operate shelters and second-stage transitional housing for Inuit women and their children and gender – diverse Inuit escaping gender-based violence in urban areas and in Inuit Nunangat. The government is accepting applications for Urban Shelters and Transitional housing until October 31, 2023, and for regions in Inuit Nunangat until March 2024.

To apply for the funding, Inuit organizations must apply through CMHC’s Indigenous Shelter and Transitional Housing Initiative online portal. The online portal is a single application for both the construction funding from CMHC and operational funding from ISC.

Operating Shelters and Support

Pauktuutit does not operate shelter facilities. If you are in need of emergency housing or support, please contact a shelter in your region:

Inuvialuit

Inuvik

Inuvik Transition House Society

iths@northwestel.new

Crisis Line 1-867-777-3877
Tanya Dillon, Executive Director

Tuktoyaktuk

Aimayunga Women and Emergency Foster Care Shelter

aimayunga@tukcommunitycorp.com
Crisis Line 1-867-977-2000
Sandra Elias, Executive Director

Kitikmeot

Cambridge Bay

Operational Arnat Qimavik – Cambridge Bay Wellness Centre Crisis Shelter

tclarke@gov.nu.ca
fvvp@cambridgebay.ca
sarcha@polarnet.ca
Box 81 Cambridge Bay NU X0E 0C0

Anne Isnor (Family Violence Contact) (867) 983-5232
Troy Clarke 867 983 4169

Kugaaruk

Operational Tammaaquik Women’s Centre – Family Violence centre

womenshelter2@outlook.com
shelter_manager@outlook.com
P.O. Box 205 Hamlet Office, Kugaaruk, NU X0B 1K0

Catherine Nipatuyuk 867-769-6100

Kugluktuk
Operational

Kugluktuk Women’s Crisis Centre

Beverly Bort (867) 982-3210

Kivalliq

Baker Lake

Innutit Women’s Group Ikajuqtauvvik Crisis Centre

General Delivery Taloyoak NU X0E 1B0
Tel.: (867) 561-5902

Rankin Inlet
Operational

Kataujaq Society Shelter

kataujaq@qiniq.com
kylagabrielle26@yahoo.com
P.O. Box 344 Rankin Inlet X0C 0G0
ED/Shelter Manager, Joyce Kent (867) 645-2214
Emerg/After Hrs (867) 645-6432

Nunatsiavut

Nain

Nain Safe House
Women’s Shelter

nainsafehouse@nf.aibn.com
709-922-1230 Nicole Dicker (Executive Director)

Rigolet

Kirkina House
Women’s Shelter

rigoletsafehouse@bellaliant.com
Desiree Wolfrey (Executive Director) 709-947-3583

Nunavik

Inukjuak

Ajapirvik Women’s Shelter
Women’s Shelters and Transition Homes

matagotaaluk@gmail.com
Mary Atagotaaluk (Director) 819-819 254 1414

Kangiqsujuaq

Qarmaapik House: A multi-use and safe place for families in Kangiqsualujjuaq
Safe House

Pilot Project
Maggie Emudluk, and Hilda Snowball Board Members – No contact information for location.

Kuujjuaq

Tungasuvvik Women’s Shelter
Women’s Shelters and Transition Homes

stagoona@gmail.com
(819) 964-0536 Sarah Tagoona Executive Director
(819) 964-2423

Salluit

Initsiaq Women’s Shelter
Women’s Shelters and Transition Homes

bcranemartin@gmail.com
Brenda Crane Martin (Director)
819-255 8045 or 819-255-8817

Qikiqtaaluk

Cape Dorset

Tukkuvik Women’s Shelter

Box 69 Cape Dorset NU X0A 0C0
Tel.: (867) 897-8683
Crisis Line: (867) 979-4500

Iqaluit

Operational
Qimaavik Women’s shelter
director@ywca-agvvik.org
ed@ywca-agvik.org
P.O Box 237 Iqaluit X0A 0H0
Tel.: (867) 979-4566

Pangnirtung

Tullivik Group

Box 204 Pangnirtung NU X0A 0R0
Tel.: (867) 473-8944

Research

All actions undertaken should be grounded in evidence-based data to support responses. To ensure that the voices of Inuit women are heard, we support research, data collection, gap analysis, and allocation of resources.

The successful implementation of the creation of shelters for Inuit women will respond to the National Action Plan, safety being paramount in the 231 Calls for Justice.

Contact Information

If you have any questions about this application, please write to Kerenza Plohman at kplohman@pauktuutit.ca, who can provide you with more information to help you complete the application.

Housing Solutions Specialists in your region.

 

Pauktuutit recommends contacting CMHC’s Housing Solutions Specialists to discuss potential or in-progress applications. CMHC staff are available to help at any point in the application process and can review parts of your application at any time. If you are interested in building and/or operating a shelter for Inuit women, gender-diverse individuals and their families anywhere in Canada, do not hesitate to reach out to CMHC. You can also send your questions to the CMHC mailbox at NouvelleInitiativedesRefuges@cmhc-schl.gc.ca.

NUNAVUT
Contact Anna Kirbyson
akirbyso@cmhc-schl.gc.ca
604 737 4087

INUVIALUIT
Contact Bright Lubansa
blubansa@cmhc-schl.gc.ca
867 988 3159

NUNAVIK
Contact François Sauvageau
fsauvage@cmhc-schl.gc.ca
514 283 5110
or Karine Prevost
kprevost@cmhc-schl.gc.ca
514 437 3696

NUNATSIAVUT
Contact Karine Prevost
kprevost@cmhc-schl.gc.ca
514 437 3696

Questions & Answers

Resources

Associated Links