Thank you. Mr. Speaker, as I indicated earlier, the Housing Corporation through the housing associations fund homes, what we call social housing units, particularly for those with lower incomes. I think we presently operate over 5,000 units and as I have said over and over again here in the House, there is a requirement for more, and because of the state of our resources, we have had to go the route of financing new private homes in order to flush out, so to speak, those who can operate their own homes, therefore, opening up the ones that they have been using to those that are more needy. That program is still there. The individuals that the Member refers to are certainly eligible for this program, but it does require them to apply to the housing association and so forth and take some responsibility for rent payment and a portion of the utilities. The issue of dealing with the people who are homeless but will not apply for social housing units for one reason or another, which I understand the Member is referring to, the assistance for those people falls under the responsibility of Education, Culture and Employment and the Income Support Program. The Housing Corporation does get involved in some cases, for example, here in Yellowknife for years we were intimately involved with the funding of the housing units for the YWCA and have recently completed a deal with the YWCA and others to make units available here in Yellowknife. As I understand it, the Salvation Army here is underutilized. There are reasons for that, and the Member stated one of them which is a policy that if you smell of liquor or have been drinking, you will not be allowed in the shelter. There are good reasons for that, but that does not negate the fact that you still have a homeless person. So, I will work with the Member, with all Members, with the ECE Minister to try to come up with a solution for this difficult problem.
Goo Arlooktoo on Question 79-13(5): Plans For Sheltering The Homeless
In the Legislative Assembly on January 22nd, 1998. See this statement in context.
Return To Question 79-13(5): Plans For Sheltering The Homeless
Question 79-13(5): Plans For Sheltering The Homeless
Item 7: Oral Questions
January 21st, 1998
Page 276
Goo Arlooktoo Baffin South
See context to find out what was said next.