Nunavut Housing Corp. makes plans for $80M in federal funding

The Nunavut Housing Corporation has announced how it will spend a "significant" federal contribution aimed at addressing the territory's housing crisis.

The 2016 federal budgetlaid out $76.7 million over two years for building affordable housing.

Through theInvestment in Affordable Housing Initiative, it's also providing:

• $1.2 million to improve housing for seniors;
• $500,000to support the renovation of shelters and transition houses for victims of family violence; and
• $2.6 million for repairs to aging social housing.

But as big as the multi-million dollar announcement might seem, it certainly won't solve Nunavut's housing deficit, which has been called a $1-billion issue.

"While this funding is a significant accomplishment, it only begins to address Nunavut's severe housing crisis," George Kuksuk, the minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation told the territorial legislature Monday.

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Where the money will go

Kuksuk saidthe territorial corporation has come up with a "comprehensive implementation plan for this funding."

The multi-million-dollar announcement should create 185 units in the communities with the "greatest need," he explained.

Those units will be divided among 15 communities. After two years, Cambridge Bay will end up with the most units at 25. Gjoa Haven, Arviat and Iqaluit will each get 20.

As for the funding for seniors, Kuksuk said the majority of the money will be used to improve the situations in two Nunavut elders' homes, in Iqaluit and in Arviat.

As for the funding for housing thatsupports victims of family violence, Kuksuk says "the Nunavut Housing Corporation is working closely with the Department of Family Services to identify renovation work on two non-government owned and operated shelters that would benefit significantly from this funding."

Kuksuk saidthe housing corporation willusethe funding for repairs to target "a serious problem" in its aging social housing units mould.

Mould 'a serious problem'

Earlier in this legislative sitting, South Baffin MLA David Joanasie asked about what the government is doing about mouldy housing, which he says is a growing concern among his constituents.

Kuksuk told Joanasie that a recent review showed that245 units throughout Nunavut require mould remediation.

"I have difficulty agreeing with this figure," responded Joanasie in Inuktitut. "In my estimation, this may be the tip of the iceberg, with many more cases."

Mould has been a recurring problem among overcrowded housing units in the territory.

A Senate standing committee is currently working ona final report on the housing crisis in Northern communities.

During a trip to Iqaluit this spring, senators were told about how overcrowding and improper ventilation contributes to the overall prevalence of mould infestations.