Inuit homelessness the subject of brother and sister documentary

Napatsi Folger knows all about homelessness. Her own mother was once homeless in Ottawa.

Now, Folger's momlives with herin a small, one-bedroom apartment in Iqaluit because of lack of housing.

"She's been on a waiting list for years," said Folger.

Folger saidher mother, who "lived in different kinds of poverty throughout her life," is only one of several Inuit she knows who are personally affected by homelessness.

"Here, it's something that it's hard to get away from. It's hard not to see in everybody's lives in Iqaluit," said Folger.

So Folger and her brother Mosha Folger a director based in Ottawa are making a documentary. It'll address homelessness and housing issues affecting Inuit living in Iqaluit and Ottawa.

The documentary will highlight "real people stories" on how homelessness isn't just about being on the streets, saidFolger. Overcrowding is another side of the story.

"Even if you could afford it," Folger said, "not being able to rent a place because there's so little housing available" is the reality many face in Iqaluit.

The sibling duo has already completedfilming in Nunavut.

"It was quite eye opening," said Folger, who's working asproduction assistant on the project. They move on to film in Ottawa next.

They are expecting to finish the 45-minute film by the end of 2017.

Folger is asking for Inuit in both Ottawa and Iqaluit to reach out to her to share their homelessness stories.

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