A family in the Arctic town of Inuvik, N.W.T., is facing eviction after accumulating more than $40,000 in unpaid taxes. (Philippe Morin/CBC)

A family in Inuvik, N.W.T., is being evicted from their home after accumulating $42,000 in unpaid taxes.

Sarah Gardlund’s mother Pauline Peterson has lived in the house for 17 years. Peterson is visually impaired and uses a wheelchair.

Garlund said her mother should have been eligible for a tax exemption for people with disabilities, but she is not because Peterson is not the legal owner of the home.

The house is still in the name of Peterson's estranged husband – a man who Garlund said has refused to take his name off the house.

"He wouldn't take it off for years. Like, we tried and only after he left we started getting the bills that we owed taxes," said Garlund.

The family admits it has gotten warnings about the issue for years. Garlund said they couldn't afford to pay tax or the back taxes.

"They wanted us to pay $600 a month, which leaves my mom with barely enough to buy groceries for herself," said Garlund.

In December, the property was sold at tax auction. That left the family with 30 days to pay the entire bill or get evicted.

The family still lives in the house and they said they cannot find another place to live.

Inuvik’s mayor Denny Rodgers said the town has known about the problem for years and tried to make an arrangement with the family.

“Before it gets to that point, we do everything we can to get the homeowner to pay those taxes, because inevitably, that's what we want. We'll give them an opportunity to enter into a payment plan with us, to pay the taxes down on a monthly and hopefully get it under control before it gets to that point,” said Rodgers.

But Rodgers said that after years of waiting, the town has no choice.