Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written question asked by Mr. Yakeleya on October 27, 2004, regarding housing repair and construction funding.
There are currently nine log units in the Sahtu in need of major repair. Materials to repair all of these units will be delivered either during the winter road season or via barge in the summer. Repairs on four log houses were completed during the 2003-04 construction season. Construction of three new log houses will be completed in Deline by March 31, 2005.
The specific amount spent in the construction of a stick-built three-bedroom home varies depending on the community in which the home is being constructed. The cost of construction depends largely on the cost of land in each community. Construction of a three-bedroom stick-built home ranges from $140,600 in Kakisa to a high of $260,000 in Inuvik. In the Sahtu, the cost ranges from $200,966 to $217,501.
The business incentive policy is applied for the supply of materials for all new housing construction undertaken by the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. Over the past 12 years, the corporation has spent over $18 million on northern manufactured materials and supplies in the construction of new housing units. These supplies include water, doors, windows, trusses and kitchen cabinets, among others. Since the creation of two territories in 1999, the corporation has spent an average of $704,000 annually on northern manufactured goods for NWT housing projects.
The Housing Corporation has increased its lobbying efforts with regard to securing new federal funding. During a recent meeting of federal, provincial and territorial Housing Ministers, recognition was given to the unique needs of the North and the inadequacy of per capita funding for the NWT. Motion 21-15(3), carried by the Legislative Assembly during the October 2004 session, calls on the corporation to "work with other NWT stakeholders to develop a convincing proposal to take to the federal government for additional investments in the NWT public housing." Preliminary work has already begun on this front and will continue over the course of the year.
The Housing Corporation offers the following programs to eligible clients:
- • Expanded Downpayment Assistance Program
- • Independent Housing Program
- • Senior Citizen Home Repair Program
- • Northern Territorial Rental Purchase Program
- • Sale of Housing Material Packages
- • Elders on the Land Initiative
- • Seniors and/or Disabled Preventative Maintenance Initiative
- • Pile Repair Initiative
- • Loan Guarantee Program
- • Refinancing of NWTHC Mortgage Portfolio
- • Mortgage Assistance Program
- • Home Adaptations for Seniors Independence
- • Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program
- • Emergency Repair Program
- • Shelter Enhancement - Renovation
- • Rent Supplement Program
- • Public Housing Program
- • Supported Lease Program
- • Sale of Public Housing Initiative
In addition, a publication outlining Housing Corporation programs is available at every local housing organization. These details are also available on the NWTHC web site at http://www.nwthc.gov.nt.ca. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.