Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was pleased to see Mr. Arlooktoo speak about the 1996 Housing Needs Survey today because my statement relate to the need for transitional housing in Yellowknife. Transitional housing, for those who are not familiar with it, is for people who have no money, who are destitute or perhaps are in need of fleeing abuse. I am not talking about people who are perpetually in need of housing, the homeless who also need help, that is another critical area, but I am talking about people with dependants who require interim accommodation for a period of time until they get on their feet.
Yellowknife has become a magnet for a lot of people from throughout the territories and perhaps other areas as well. They are moving here from the communities. We attract a lot of families and a lot of people, some of whom are in need when they get here and likely this will increase as we go, both the numbers of people that we attract because of the potential here, because of the services here and so forth, and that will put increasing pressure on transitional housing needs. There is no shortage in our community in terms of apartments to rent or houses for sale. As a matter of fact, there is a surplus. But these are not for people who have no money, people who do not even have a damage deposit.
I was at a meeting of the YWCA recently and there were a number of community organizations represented there. There was anxiety about the future ability to provide housing and support programs. The NWT Housing Corporation has been very supportive over the years and continues to do that, but there is a limit to that support. The Housing Corporation cannot continue to increase its support forever, especially under the current financial conditions. The reason I am raising this today, Mr. Speaker, is because I want people to be aware. It is not just in the communities that there is a housing need for certain sectors. We also have a housing need and we are getting a lot of people from your communities. I have a responsibility when they become my constituents. I have a responsibility to address that problem and I will continue to address it, Mr. Speaker, to try and find some solution to it and to pressure the Minister when it comes to housing needs for my community. Thank you.