[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.
You may continue with your statement, Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, numerically they are factored in, but the nature of these costs is not. That is to say, child care expenses would be considered the same as a car payment.
Of course, costs like these represent two completely different circumstances with varying degrees of need. As such, more often than not the applicant’s true discretionary income is not really captured, so a single parent’s eligibility many times falls just over the predetermined Core Need Income Threshold, and they become ineligible for public housing. This is happening all too often to single people who are making an effort to provide a better living for themselves and their children. I feel we need to do something immediately. We need to do an immediate review of the policy so that special circumstances associated with child care costs are properly factored in determining an accurate evaluation of an individual applicant.
Today I will have questions for the Minister Responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation. Thank you.
Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
