Services
Meeting People Where They Are
Housing and support across the continuum in Iqaluit.
Each day in Iqaluit, people face uncertainty about shelter and safety. Uquutaq responds with consistent, accessible care.
Continuum of Care
Different supports for different moments.
Uquutaq’s services are designed to work together — offering multiple entry points and pathways depending on a person’s circumstances.
SHELTERS
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING
LONG-TERM HOUSING OPTIONS
This integrated approach allows Uquutaq to respond flexibly to individual needs while strengthening the overall housing system in Iqaluit.
Expanding Services to Meet Growing Need
People need more than a place to sleep.
Shelter Services
A safe place, every night of the year.
Uquutaq operates two shelter programs designed to respond to different levels of need.
Low Barrier Shelter
Located at 534 Niaqunngusiariaq Road, the Low Barrier Shelter:
- Overnight (8 PM – 8 AM)
- Accommodates men and women
- Welcomes people who are intoxicated or impaired
As Nunavut’s first low barrier shelter, this program ensures that the most vulnerable people are not turned away on the coldest nights.
Ullivik, the low-barrier shelter expansion, is scheduled to open in December 2026. This newest addition to Uquutaq’s services will see an increase in shelter beds from 17 to 44 shelter beds, a year-round drop-in and warming centre, 13 low-barrier transitional housing rooms, and space designed for safety, accessibility, and culturally responsive care.
High Barrier Shelter
Located at 1077 Akilliq Drive, the High Barrier Shelter:
- 24/7 operation
- Up to 30 men
- Frequently at or near capacity
The shelter provides a stable environment where men can rest, access meals, and connect with staff who support next steps toward housing.
Transitional Housing
A bridge from shelter to independent living.
Avataq Transitional Housing
Situated on the second floor of 1077 Akilliq Drive, Avataq Transitional Housing:
- Communal living
- Individualized work plans
- 24/7 staff support
This program helps residents build the routines, skills, and stability needed to move toward independent housing in a highly constrained market.
Long-Term Housing Options
Creating options in a limited housing market.
Uquutaq operates 11 affordable one- and two-bedroom rental units at 1079 Akilliq Drive, made possible through federal capital funding.
Key features of the program:
- Below-market units
- Long-term stability
- Inuit-designated units included
In a city where vacancy rates are extremely low and rents are among the highest in the country, these units represent rare and critical opportunities.
What we now refer to as the ATCO Loop Development, and will be officially named by Elders, is in its very initial stages. This project is the final step in our plan to strengthen the pathway from homelessness to home in Iqaluit. This four-storey, mixed-use development will bring together affordable housing, below-market housing, and non-profit community space in the heart of the city.
Scheduled to open in 2028, the new Butler Building in downtown Iqaluit – which will be named appropriately by Elders – introduces supportive housing with 32 self-contained single-room occupancy units, with on-site support staff and multi-use rooms.
Support Services & Community Connection
Helping people navigate what comes next.
Stable housing is only one part of rebuilding a life. Many people who come to Uquutaq need help navigating complex systems, rebuilding documentation, and reconnecting with supports that have long felt out of reach.
Uquutaq provides practical, individualized assistance that helps clients move forward.
Staff work closely with each individual to identify barriers and connect them to the right resources at the right time.
Restoring Connection – To Culture, Community and Self
Restoring connection — to culture, community, and self.
In addition to housing and support services, Uquutaq partners with community organizations that offer cultural programming and opportunities for connection.
These partnerships may include:
- Access to cultural services led by Inuit organizations
- On-the-land programs that bring participants to the floe edge
- Opportunities to learn hunting, survival skills, and traditional knowledge
For many, these experiences support healing, rebuild confidence, and strengthen connection to land, culture, and community — essential elements of long-term wellbeing in Nunavut.
Uquutaq continues to grow in response to community need, with planned expansions that include:
- Increased low barrier shelter capacity
- New transitional and supportive housing
- Year-round drop-in and warming spaces
Each new service builds on what exists — filling gaps and creating more pathways toward safety and stability.
Support the Work
Services like these exist because people choose to invest in them.
Delivering housing and support in the North requires sustained resources, strong partnerships, and long-term commitment. Support from donors, funders and community partners makes it possible to keep doors open, staff programs, and respond to emerging needs.