Thank you, Minister. Mr. Carpenter.
Thank you, Madam Chair. We are really excited about our Northern Pathways to Housing program. This is a program where we partner with typically an Indigenous community organization to put up a building that is for typically homeless people, and this is the only program that is targeted at communities outside major centres, or mainly targeted. We have some on the ground right now that are doing very well. We have one up in Aklavik; we have a four-plex there. We have one out in Behchoko. We have one down in Fort Simpson, and we have one out in Fort Good Hope, there. This is where we have worked really hard to develop a relationship with an operator. We've provided funds to renovate or build a new building, and we're quite excited about that one.
Another one is we've talked about our community housing support initiative. That is something in-house where we will contribute to community projects will have some sort of benefit to addressing homelessness. The other one I keep promoting, or I've mentioned several times, is the co-investment fund. That's going to be another avenue where we will get some homelessness projects off the ground. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Carpenter. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm going to use the rest of my time to talk about the Transitional Rent Supplement Program. I see that the 2018-2019 actuals, the fund wasn't fully subscribed. Has the Housing Corporation gained some insight into why this program isn't usually fully subscribed? Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Yellowknife Centre. Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I am going to have Mr. Carpenter elaborate on this rent supplementary program. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. Carpenter.
Thank you, Madam Chair. The Transitional Rent Supplement Program, we like the program. We've always wanted to see it more fully subscribed, but what we've done is we've included it in this year's planning because, as part of our bilateral agreement, Canada is coming out with a program called a Canadian Housing Benefit, and that's going to be a program that is going to be delivered or provide a benefit right to individuals for housing. Our plan, or our intent, or our hope is that that program is going to take over for the TRSP. Our plan is we're hoping that it takes over so that we can wind down our TRSP program. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Carpenter. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm not sure that I got an answer to the functional part of this question, which is why the program wasn't fully subscribed and what the lessons are going forward with the newt Canada Housing Benefit. Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Yellowknife Centre. Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I will have Mr. Carpenter elaborate further. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. Carpenter.
Thank you, Madam Chair. We really don't have a clear understanding, as well, why the program wasn't fully subscribed. We spent a lot of time and effort contacting private landlords, promoting the program as much as we could. We advertised it in the public and the communities. Despite all those efforts, though, we didn't get the levels of participation that we wanted out of the program. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Carpenter. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Thank you. This program would have been prime for an evaluation to really get even more detail about why it didn't take off, given, on the face of it, it looks like it's much-needed. Can the Minister say whether the Canada program is going to be a one-size-fits-all program, or will there be a unique set of criteria that apply to the NWT? Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Yellowknife Centre. Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I see the importance of this program going forward, and I would like to elaborate on it going forward and looking at a lot of advertisement that could take this to another level. I'm going to have Mr. Carpenter elaborate on this. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. Carpenter.
Thank you, Madam Chair. The Canada Housing Benefit was anticipated or scheduled by Canada to be developed and rolled out on April 1. That's not going to happen, we were advised. We're not clear on when that program is being rolled out. It's still under development, so we don't know any of the details. We do participate in some working groups on that program, but we just don't have any details to release on that at this point. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Carpenter. Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Can the Minister elaborate a bit on the federal and territorial funding, the operating agreements, and just explain to me, I guess, what they are and who they're with, and if it's basically more suited for Yellowknife? Yes, is it in Yellowknife or is it in something that affects the whole NWT? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Madam Chair. The federal agreements that we do have in place, they are for the whole of the Northwest Territories, and not just one area to be fully experiencing the funding and the benefits that the programs have to offer. I'm going to have Mr. Carpenter elaborate on the agreements that we have in place. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. Carpenter.
Thank you, Madam Chair. The Minister pretty much captured it. We mentioned our unit inventory earlier; that's the operating funding for that portfolio, all over the territories. We do have the unilateral operating agreements. Those are agreements that, when we signed our agreement with Canada back in the mid-1990s, I believe, we picked up some of their programming. One that stands out for those of you from Yellowknife is the North Slave Housing Corporation. We picked up operating money for them that we flow through to them, as well. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Carpenter. Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm pleased to hear that we're discussing homelessness today, and the need for emergency shelters, but I guess I'm kind of perplexed on exactly what an emergency shelter is. Because I look in the communities, and you've got people living on the street when it's minus 40, and the government, the department wants plans provided to them saying that they need assistance. The problem is that a lot of the non-profit groups that usually look after social issues and social concerns and homelessness are taxed as it is, and they don't have the people in place to sit down and do that work, or they don't have the money to pay somebody to do it. So I'm just wondering: what role does the NWT Housing Corporation play in homelessness? I'll use Hay River as an example, because we went through the winter just looking after ourselves. I've reached out to the Housing Corporation numerous times, so I'd just like to hear the comment from the Minister. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I would like to elaborate that the homelessness issue throughout the Northwest Territories is quite significant, and I do identify it, and I see that the numbers are growing. We, as the Housing Corporation, do have several initiatives going forward and looking at how we deal with the homelessness issue throughout the territory. First of all, I would need to hear which areas are experiencing the homelessness and looking at the community plans that we are developing, and looking at the studies that we have developed going forward, that it feeds off it. It gives us that information of what clearly needs to be established. The Housing Corporation, you know, we could initiate in building the facilities, but then the other thing I'm concerned about is: who is going to carry over the program? Looking at the number of stocks that we do have in the community, we do have aging inventory, and they would be available if we were approached by organizations and communities that, if the communities wanted to take our old stock over.
One of the things that I want to elaborate on is we do have the Northern Pathways program; I'm going to emphasize that it has been established in Fort Simpson, Aklavik, Behchoko, and Fort Good Hope, and it does come with a wraparound service. So the clients who are actually in the facility have quick access to Income Support and addiction treatments, and whatever. We do hire somebody who effectively works with the clients. So, going forward, those community plans are very significant and very important because it really identifies the need in each of the regions. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Earlier today, the Minister responsible for homelessness had mentioned that, under that portfolio, there are a couple of staff allocated to it, but there are no funds. Then I look at the housing, and the housing does have an assisted fund, there. Are they two separate things? How do you reconcile your duties as the Minister responsible for homelessness and the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Madam Chair. This is an area that we have had to slowly take responsibility for, which is fine, it's good, but, because we are the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, we're looking at every avenue; home ownership, public housing, homelessness, and the need that is required in the North. So we have developed a number of programs where we would be able to address this issue. Earlier, I had said that we did not have money that was set aside, but we do have money that is sitting there. It's quite a confusing initiative for me to try to display and to try to speak of, but, going forward, during my term, I am wanting to construct a homeless shelter in each of the regions to deal with this issue and to try to elaborate on it a little bit more, that we'd be able to enhance the service that the Housing Corporation could participate in. Not only that, but to also lobby on behalf of the Housing Corporation that this is something that we need, that we require additional and more money to be working with this initiative throughout the territory. I hope that answers the Member's questions. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Member for Hay River South.
That answers the question. The other thing is that I want to tell you right now, you wanted to hear it, Hay River needs a shelter, an emergency shelter for men during the winter. So you heard it from me, and I hear it from the people in town. So now you know, and hopefully we'll get somebody to approach you; we already did once, and hopefully we'll hear back. I just wanted to make that point.
The next thing here is, I guess, as Regular MLAs here, most issues we hear about have to deal with either housing or health. Those are the complaints we get. So, with the number of complaints, do you guys track the number of complaints that you get with respect to housing in all areas? If you do, can you give me an idea, a breakdown of what those complaints are? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Those numbers are quite significant; they are huge. They could come from, you know, the concerns that are out there from maintenance issues to non-payment of rent. The numbers are quite large. Or else just not finding a place to stay. There are people who are couch-surfing. There are people who have just had children or they've been incarcerated, they're trying to return back to their community, or treatment centre, and they don't have the support returning back to their community. So looking at housing, it comes with such a significant dynamic; it's so large that, since I've held the portfolio, according to our stats and our questions, like, I'm right on top of there and I can see the drastic need for improvement; not improvement, more an enhancement of what we have and working with what we've got. I want to really emphasize, really put out there, that the community plans, the housing plans, this is what would identify for us and enable for us to start budgeting what each region is wanting to establish in their area. I hope I was able to answer your question. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Madam Chair. She, I guess, kind of answered the question, but I know where her office is, so I know how to get hold of her, and I can do that. Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Moving on, we will move on to the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Marsi cho, Madam Chair. I'm just going to talk a little bit about homelessness, as well. I, too, in my riding, in Deninu Kue, we have a homelessness issue, and there is already infrastructure in place. I think we're already in discussion with the Minister on that, so hopefully we can see some progress on that. I'm just looking at page 370, here. I'm just looking at some trends, things like the Homelessness Assistance Fund staying put but items like the Small Community Homelessness Fund going down, the Shelter Enhancement Fund is going down. I'm just getting a sense of why that is the way it is. My question to the Minister is: is the intention here to rely on the co-investment fund to get some help from the feds? What is the intention here, and why are these line items trending the way they are? Mahsi cho.
Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I am going to have Mr. Martin respond to this question. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. Martin.
Thank you, Madam Chair. With regard to the Shelter Enhancement Fund, Victims of Family Violence line item, we did have a fair amount of extra spending in 2018-2019 compared to the base budget of $100,000 for 2020-2021. The reason for that additional spending is the fact that the Housing Corporation, under budget 2016, secured additional funding through that budget, the federal budget, and was able to invest additional dollars into Victims of Family Violence shelters. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Martin. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Marsi cho, Madam Chair, and thank you for that response. I had a loaded question, there, but I guess I'm going to ask it again. I'm going to ask the Minister again: is there an intention here to lean on the co-investment fund to kind of offset some of these decreases? Marsi cho.
Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Madam Chair. The co-investment fund is offered to the individuals and stakeholders, Indigenous governments, that are wanting to pursue housing initiatives, but I'm going to have Jim elaborate on this a little bit more; sorry, Mr. Martin, a little bit more. Thank you, Madam Chair.
