Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to talk about seniors also, senior homeowners specifically that are in need of programs to assist them to maintain their homes.
As it stands now, the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation has programs that can provide what is needed for seniors. However, accessing the current programs is more difficult than it needs to be.
The NWT Housing Corporation has a CARE program that can provide both maintenance and repairs but the seniors are not a priority and if they can’t get themselves to the officers that are delivering the program, they are missed.
Earlier in this session we passed a motion asking the NWT Housing Corporation to introduce a program that is targeted to seniors that only seniors are eligible for. In addition, I have asked on many occasions to have staff of the NWT Housing Corporation visit seniors in their homes during the initial application stage. I even provided a list of seniors to the Minister that may have mobility issues. The officers did not go into the homes during the initial application stage and many of the seniors did not get assistance.
I want the Housing Corporation to develop a seniors-specific program or programs for repairs and maintenance. I also would like the staff of the Housing Corporation to go into the homes of the seniors to collect the necessary documentation for the application stage.
I have spoken many times in the House about the benefits of keeping seniors in their own homes, the benefits that could be accrued to both the senior and the government overall. The cost benefit to the government could be high. For example, if a senior was no longer able to live in his home, the government would provide rental accommodation at a cost substantially higher than that of repairing the home. If a senior gets to a stage where the home is in that condition and does not wish a rental accommodation, the government would have another option: leave the senior in the dilapidated home or replace the house at a cost of $200,000 to $300,000.
The Housing Corporation has to get serious about this request. We were told by the seniors this is what was needed. In addition, a seniors-specific program would not cost the Housing Corporation extra money. The money can be flowed from the existing programs.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
