Pictured: Behchoko’s new warming shelter’s exterior and interior

People in Behchoko, NWT with nowhere to live now have a new place to warm up, get a hot meal and take a shower, thanks in part to the community’s Northern.

As recently as a couple of years ago, Behchoko was facing a housing crisis, leaving many homeless people with no place to go. The community’s first warming shelter opened in April 2018 to respond to the need.

The North West Company’s local Northern has worked as a volunteer member of the Behchoko Emergency Warming Shelter’s committee in a number of meetings which have centered around fundraising efforts for the second shelter, which opened on October 1, 2018 and is set operate through April 2019.

Raising money will allow funding for the shelter’s operations, and for hiring shelter attendants.

The new shelter will have a large positive impact on the community, as it will provide a warm, safe space for the night to those in need. The shelter will be open seven days a week, from 8pm to 8am, and will be fully equipped with shower, laundry, sleeping area, and warm meals.

Volunteer Anna Sadahat says the shelter makes “an impact that cannot be measured in numbers. It’s measured in the dignity given back to those who use the facility, even if it’s for a few hours.”