Thank you, Madam Chair. As far as the vacant units go, we’ve got 75 public housing units that are vacant and I think we’ve got a number of them that are under repair in addition to the 75. So those are ready to be allocated.

On the affordable housing side, we’ve got 58 units that are ready to be occupied and we have a number that are under repair in addition to the 58. So as you can recall, from a number of years ago, we were up to, like, 135 vacant units. So the number has gone down quite a bit.

I share the Member’s concern. We’re challenged with adding on to our public housing stock because of declining CMHC funding. So that’s why, if you look at our notes we always say replacement of public housing, because as we put a new unit into the system, we’re going to have to take another one out. We have 89 units right now that are ready for disposal. These are surplus units or ones that, with the new standards nowadays, we’ve got to do the hazardous assessment on them and then that adds quite a cost on to them. So we’ve got 89 that are scheduled to be disposed of.

The public housing in Yellowknife, again, we just completed I think it was a 19-unit apartment building here in the capital. We recognize that there’s a need here, too, and the Rent Supplement Program I think was taken advantage of. I think the Territorial Rent Supplement Program, I think the bulk of our clients were from the capital, which, as the Member has said and I totally agree with her, is that the rent here is quite high. So that’s been taken up by some of the larger communities where there is a bit of a challenge. Again, it’s a fine balancing we have to do. I mean, we want to be able to meet the needs of all across the Northwest Territories. The Member mentioned the money we put into the Betty House and I think it was $2.3 million. A little more fortunate here in the capital that they do have a few places they’re able to go. Again, the challenge is in the smaller communities. I think the Member mentioned that too.

It’s a start, but the hard to house pilot program I just spoke about is a start. We have a new homelessness coordinator hired who started in August, very enthusiastic, and part of her duties are to try and gather all the information from across the Northwest Territories on what some of our challenges are, so we’re looking forward to seeing the results of her good work in the near future.

Again, it’s a fine balancing act. We have to make sure we meet the needs of the capital, the larger communities and the smaller communities, and we think over the next couple of years with some of the investments that we’re making, I think we’ll be able to address some of those needs. I mean, it’s an ongoing process and will there ever come a day where we’re able to meet all. I wish we’re around to see it, Ms. Bisaro, but it’s a start, and I think there’s been a huge improvement.

Again, I appreciate the comments of the Member on the work that folks at the NWT Housing Corporation are doing. A lot of that work, I think, would go by the wayside if it wasn’t for the political support that we receive from committee and from this Assembly, so we appreciate that. I think that goes a long way to us advancing some of the initiatives that we have on the go.