In Conversation with Nakuset from the Native Women's Shelter

Nakuset, director of the Native Women's Shelter, discusses how Indigenous homeless people and homeless shelters in Montreal are affected by the pandemic. 

This story is important to Montreal because it discusses how homeless shelters have been impacted by COVID-outbreaks, including an outbreak at the Native Women's Shelter last summer, where Nakuset explains how staff and clients had to isolate, the protocol of the shelter following the reopening of the Native Women's shelter, and how the temporary closure put homeless Indigenous women and families at risk without the shelter. Nakuset also discusses the expansion process of the Native Women's Shelter, and how it's experienced delay, noting how public importance is not adequately provided to homeless shelters, as well as how the Native Women's Shelter operates within COVID-protocol to ensure safety to shelter workers and clients during the pandemic.

Nakuset discusses needs and solutions, including what she would like to see the government do to better serve and help the homeless Indigenous population, the need for social housing and identifying the high rate of expensive condos in comparison to the low rate of social housing. As Montreal is already in a housing crisis amidst low vacancy rates and rising rent prices, Nakuset says that systemic racism provides a barrier in Indigenous folks accessing housing, as she has seen this first-hand in assisting her clients with landlords.

Since this interview was conduced two shelters have experienced COVID-outbreaks drawing further attention to the challenges homeless shelters face amidst the pandemic. 

Excerpts of this interview have been used for the first episode of Local 514. Episode one is available here.

This interview was conducted on December 3, 2020.