Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of the Housing Corporation regarding the latest core needs report. The 2009 report compared to the 2004 report, it seems like we haven’t seen any improvements in that area. We put forward new programs and services. At one point we used to have liaison officers in our communities to assist on program delivery. Are we going to review our programs that we do deliver in light of the dismal numbers we see in the report that was just tabled? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. Robert McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there are a few factors in determining numbers for the need survey; suitability, adequacy and affordability are three of them. We are planning on undertaking a review of our programs starting in this fiscal year. We are hoping to have the results, and we can share that with the Members, and hopefully that will take steps to address some of the core needs in the communities. Thank you.
I, for one, feel that we do have to do a better job in regards to how we look at the income thresholds, because it seems to be one of the barriers. Also, with regard to the requirements under the programs where you are disallowed if you’ve had previous programs with the Housing Corporation... I think a lot of people realize that most houses in the communities were put on the ground through the federal housing or aboriginal housing programs through the federal government. Because of that, you’re being disallowed. Is that something that will also be looked at in this review?
The Member is correct; that is going to be one of the things that we plan on reviewing, as well as the core need income threshold that was raised recently. There are still a lot of questions as to some of the gaps in the program, and I’ve instructed officials over at the Housing Corporation to see if we can come up with some ideas to address some of those gaps, so the people that deserve to get into the program are not hindered by their core need income threshold. Thank you.
I also believe another area we have to look at is with regard to the delivery of those programs and services. I don’t see why we can’t have program officers in communities where we have over 100 units. Are you going to also look at the possibility of revamping the delivery system that we use to deliver programs and services wherever possible and put program officers in communities that can show there is a need by having enough houses on the ground? Will that also be looked at? Thank you.
The liaison program that was in the community was a valuable service to the district operations and it is something we would be willing to look at again. Unfortunately, these positions were eliminated through budget reduction exercises a few years ago, but we have heard the concerns from Members in communities, so this is something we would be willing to look at again. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with regard to the whole program and service area, we also have to realize that we do have an aging infrastructure. The older these houses get, the more it’s going to cost to repair. My colleague Mr. Beaulieu mentioned that we have to look at the area of “if we don’t do anything now, it’s going to cost us more in the future.” So wherever possible, we should try to do what we can to keep residents in their own homes and offer them repair programs to keep their houses over a certain level. I just want to ask the Minister if he could make an effort to try to increase more applications for communities and, if anything, put more money into this program to get those people out of core need.
The last fiscal year and this coming 2010-2011 fiscal year there is more money going into repairs than we’ve seen in a long time. We are working and trying to get more people eligible for repairs, whether they’ve had assistance before or not. You can even carry up to $5,000 in arrears and still qualify for the Home Repair Program. We are taking steps to try and get as many people into the programs as possible. We have to be careful that we don’t just start handing out keys. There are a lot of people out there who have met all the commitments that they’ve signed for. We have to be careful that this is one that is fair to all people out there.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.
