[English translation not provided.]
Today I would like to talk about a situation that puts single parents at a disadvantage when it comes to accessing public housing.
Many of our constituents are single parents with young children, who are trying their best to earn a living and provide for their children. Unfortunately, many of these single-income earners are struggling to make ends meet. Some have families and friends to assist them, but many rely solely on government assistance.
One such program is the social housing program at the NWT Housing Corporation. Under the current policies individuals can become eligible for housing assistance if they are within the Core Need Income Threshold.
The Core Need Income Threshold is a total of both assessable and non-assessable income used by Housing to determine eligibility for public housing units. The criteria which are used for determining an applicant’s Core Need Income Threshold do not fully take into consideration the costs associated with child care.
Interruption.