Nunatsiaq News: Qikiqtani Inuit Association offers $1,000 per family for COVID-19 relief
Inuit org reduces size of individual benefit to reach more people
The Qikiqtani Inuit Association’s Family Support Initiative is now worth $1,000 per family. (QIA graphic)
Inuit families in the Qikiqtani region can still apply for a new COVID-19 relief program called the Qikiqtani Family Support Initiative, worth $1,000 per family.
When first announced earlier this week, the benefit was worth more: $1,500 per family.
But because such a large number of people—more than 2,000—applied for it, QIA staff have reduced the payment to $1,000, so more people may get the benefit within the funds that are available.
“As a result, QIA is adjusting the grant to allocate $1,000 for each eligible household and allow an additional 884 Inuit families to receive this fund,” the organization said in a news release.
That means a total of 2,660 Qikiqtani Inuit families are eligible for the program.
This project is an expansion of a $2-million emergency initiative that QIA rolled out last April at the height of the pandemic’s first wave, QIA said in a news release. That money was doled out to help people harvest country food and practice social distancing out on the land.
The QIA is allocating an additional $2.65 million for the family support program. This time, the money is for harvesting country food, buying groceries and cleaning products, and buying sewing supplies to make warm winter clothes, QIA said.
““The overwhelming popularity of this initiative shows that our programs are in tune with the needs of Qikiqtani families during the COVID-19 pandemic,” QIA President P.J. Akeeagok is quoted as saying in the release.
Qikiqtani Inuit can apply for the program until Feb. 26, 2021, or until the fund runs out. You must be 16 years of age or older as of Feb. 6, 2021, to apply.
To find an application form, go to this page on the QIA website or phone 1-867-975-8400.
The money comes from QIA’s share of the federal government’s Indigenous Community Support Fund, which is worth about $4.3 million, with additional money comes from another federal fund aimed at handling surges in the numbers of people who need help.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, QIA will announce more relief measures in the coming weeks, the organization says.
Qikiqtani Inuit Association offers $1,000 per family for COVID-19 relief
