Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written question asked by Mr. Villeneuve on October 26, 2006, regarding affordable housing initiative plans. Specifically, the Member asked that the "new" affordable housing plans of the NWTHC be tabled, and that information be provided on changes and post-analysis.
Mr. Speaker, the Housing Corporation does not have a singular design for the homes to be constructed under the AHI. Rather, it has numerous designs on which construction plans are based that are then tailored to meet the specific needs of communities and those who will be residing in these dwellings. This allows the Housing Corporation to be flexible in targeting specific needs in communities and allows residents to have input into their new homes.
There are many innovative changes that can be incorporated into AHI dwellings. Primarily, public housing dwellings constructed under the AHI will be multi-configured, thus improving energy efficiency, reducing operations and maintenance costs, capitalizing on available developed land. There is no standard design for multi-unit buildings as multi-unit configured dwellings must be designed for each community based around the specific site on which development is planned.
Depending on the needs of individual clients, dwellings constructed under AHI may also include barrier-free features for persons with disabilities, modifications to allow seniors to live more independent lives, and new technologies designed to lower heating costs. Above all, the infusion of over 500 new affordable dwellings in NWT communities will target public housing units in need of replacement, and ease the transition to homeownership for qualified tenants of public housing.
The Housing Corporation will conduct an analysis in the near future to ensure that the designs have met their intended goal, and to identify other areas where floor plans can be modified to meet the needs of residents.
Later today, examples of floor plans that have been used in AHI construction during 2006-07 will be tabled. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.