The Centre for Northern Families in Yellowknife faces a historical deficit of $172,000 and is at risk of being shut down, executive director Arlene Hache said. (CBC)

The Centre for Northern Families has an uncertain future, as the Yellowknife shelter faces a looming deficit of $172,000.

The 16-bed centre in downtown Yellowknife currently houses 23 people, many of whom are aboriginal and Inuit women and families that need a safe place to stay.

But the facility is stretched beyond its limits and struggling with a deficit that has built up year after year, executive director Arlene Hache said.

"We're delayed in paying our bills. People in town that we owe money to are very unhappy with the fact they're not paid in a timely manner," Hache told CBC News.

"The government could come in and shut us down and say, 'We're here to collect that $172,000, so pass over the keys and, you know, you're done.'"

Hache said the historical deficit is preventing the Centre for Northern Families from moving forward.

"If we didn't have that deficit, we would be able to access other money that would allow us to become more independent," she said.

Hache said the centre receives $800,000 a year from the N.W.T. government, but it is not enough to operate the building, run the centre's programs and pay off the debt as well.

"What we want to do at the end of the day is retire that deficit, and we are going to try to fundraise," she said.

Hache said through fundraising and donations, the centre hopes to raise $1 million. It has launched a Facebook campaign that currently has more than 1,350 supporters.