Mr. Speaker, I have a motion.
WHEREAS the cost of rent for social housing is set at a maximum of 32 percent of household income;
AND WHEREAS there are families living in poorly maintained social housing units that are paying more in rent than what the unit's condition merits;
AND WHEREAS many of these residents are paying maximum rent for units that have not been kept up or renovated by the landlord for over 10 years, a situation that would not be tolerated in a larger community;
AND WHEREAS the Housing Corporation, like any other landlord under the Residential Tenancies Act, is required to maintain their rental units in a state of good repair and fit for human habitation;
AND WHEREAS many tenants are either unaware of or reluctant to assert their rights to bring concerns to the rental officer pursuant to the Residential Tenancies Act;
AND WHEREAS most residents of smaller communities do not have access to market rental units, and have their options limited to building their own units or renting social housing units;
AND WHEREAS in the case of high wage earners living in social housing, the high rent severely limits their ability to save for a down payment for their own units or deal with past debts owed by the Housing Corporation for back rent;
AND WHEREAS the maximum rent of 32 percent of household income is based on a southern Canadian standard that is not reasonable when applied to NWT communities where the cost of necessities such as food and fuel is much higher;
AND WHEREAS seniors living in their own homes pay all costs of homeownership and there are many seniors living in facilities that are not owned by the NWT Housing Corporation who pay a significant portion of their income in rent;
AND WHEREAS seniors living in social housing units owned by the NWT Housing Corporation presently pay no rent;
AND WHEREAS current Department of Education, Culture and Employment and NWT Housing Corporation policies and programs are in need of adjustment to recognize individual circumstances;
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member of Monfwi, that this Assembly strongly recommends the Department of Education, Culture and Employment change the maximum percentage of income that can be charged as rent for social housing from 32 percent to 18 percent for non-market communities and from 32 percent to 25 percent for communities with a rental and private housing market;
AND FURTHER that NWT Housing Corporation do a better job in explaining their homeownership programs and in adjusting these programs to meet the needs of potential clients;
AND FURTHERMORE that the NWT Housing Corporation examine the issue of rental rates for those units that are old or in poor condition and provide clear direction to the local housing authorities on how to calculate condition discounts in calculating rent;
AND FURTHERMORE that the issue of free rent for seniors living in housing owned by the NWT Housing Corporation be re-examined and addressed in the interest of fairness to all seniors;
AND FURTHERMORE that the Department of Justice recognize that a rental officer based in Yellowknife may not meet the needs of all territorial residents and consider the need for this office to have a regional presence.
Thank you.