'Tumivut, the new Aboriginal Youth Shelter, is open and it provides temporary housing assistance for those aged 16-24. Up to 52 new clients will be able to find emergency housing assistance along with an array of programs to assist them permanently get off the streets of Toronto, according to the new manager of the facility.

Harvey Manning, a 20-year veteran in the Toronto Aboriginal community, is the manager for Miniivut. He has worked with street people for nearly 20 years both at the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto and Anishnawbe Health.

"Hey, you! This isn't about me," he says. "Yes, we opened this wonderful new facility on time for the first real blast of winter on December 19. We are almost at capacity already.'

Tumivut is Inuktitut for 'Our footprints.' A client at the time came up with the name in a contest. The design on the front of the building located at 26 Vaughn Road has a stylized four colours with bear paw footprints in each part of the circle. The artwork on the outside of the building is phenomenal and was completed by Nadia McLaren and the Seventh Generation Image Makers out of Native Child & Family Services Toronto.

"It fits in neady with the work done by Richard Bedwash on the Street Help building across the street," said Native Men's Residence Executive Director Greg Rogers. "We really believe that the art is a wonderful addition to the neighbourhood and it makes an of us very proud."

The new facility has an aerobics area, weight room, literacy room and a computer lab. There is also a new kitchen and a large dining area in the new building. The new facility is geared to getting youth off the street permanently by being able to operate 24 hours a day. Guests won't be pushed out the door at 7:00 AM. There are 19 staff working at Tumivut already.

There will be more as we overcome the small normal operational problems and settle into a routine," said Rogers. "The Youth themselves pose new challenges but I think we have hired a tremendous

Staff who are developing solutions and systems to meet the needs."

Renovations are ongoing inside the facility but will be complete before the end of January.
"We will be having a Grand Opening of the facility on February 21," said Manning. "We're still working on the details but the community will get a chance to come and see the new facility."

Down the street at 14 Vaughn Road, renovations to the main Na-Me-Res facility are almost complete. Once finished, there will be room for 61 men, up from 38.

"These renovations have been a major project," Rogers said. "But by the end of January, we will be finished and the place will be full to capacity again."

Another 'winter cold warning' has been in effect the past two days as TANSI went to press. The two facilities are very welcome in the Aboriginal community.

"We have normal growing pains as everyone is getting used to new equipment and working with different people," said Rogers. "But morale is high and staff are excited. "

Across town, Project Amik, located at 419 and 425 Coxwell Avenue, has seen tenants move in since just after Christmas, according to Frontiers Foundation Executive Director Marco Gusman.

"The first group of tenants moved in just before Christmas and more were moving in between then and New Years," he said. "We've been busy ourselves moving into our office."

Frontiers Foundation started working on the development of the project over seven years ago. it has been a long 15 months to get to this stage. They have new offices located in the renovated building of 419 Coxwell and just completed moving in.

"We received all the permits to allow people to move in on Christmas Eve," Guzman added. "It is indeed a Merry Christmas for those who were successful applicants to get in. While we had some final delays, I think everyone that is moving in is relieved and happy. "The 74-Unit complex was a joint project by all three levels of government, Frontiers, New Frontiers Aboriginal Residential Corporation (NFARC) and Dineen Construction, the prime renovate and construct the two buildings.

Amik, in a way, has been a test of the 'Let's Build' program. A lot of eyes were watching as the project got underway and was actually being built this past year. it has been largely very successful and represents the first social housing development since 1993 in Ontario.

"We had a dedication ceremony back in October," said Guzman, "but I think everyone was waiting for this day. There were many happy faces."

Both Project Amik and Tumiivut are a part of the City of Toronto's 'Let's Build' program, a partnership started with federal and provincial funds to combat homelessness three years ago. The City of Toronto administers the program with the downloading of housing from the province.