Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]
Today I would like to talk, once again, about the frustrations that many of my constituents have with the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.
Mr. Speaker, many of these constituents are elders, single mothers, young couples trying to make ends meet to raise a family and many of them rely on income support. It’s a tough situation that they are in. As their MLA, I have seen firsthand the conditions of many of these units and when I meet with them in their homes, Mr. Speaker, I hear desperation in their voices.
I, too, have become frustrated with the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation because it seems that I am not making any progress with the issues that I bring forward. Mr. Speaker, I feel that the NWT Housing Corporation continues to neglect an important element when delivering housing programs and that is taking into account full consideration and factors of individual situations.
This means incorporating creativity and flexibility needed to effectively work with desperate clients, Mr. Speaker. As it is now, for many of my constituents in Fort Resolution and Lutselk’e the policies are flawed, Mr. Speaker, it continues to be almost a daily practice if I am not following up on housing issues already in the system, then I’m bringing forth new housing issues, From there, it’s fairly predictable what happens. I get back a response that says they are unable to help. They owe money or they don’t own the land that their house has been sitting on for several years, many years, in some cases since the ‘80s.
Mr. Speaker, by the time I am able to make some headway on some of these issues, the construction season has passed. The domestic situation for our clients has changed, which means a whole application process and, unfortunately, in a few cases the constituents actually pass away before their issues can be brought before the Housing Corporation or before the Housing Corporation is able to assist them.
Mr. Speaker, there needs to be a change in attitude of the Housing Corporation, and in many of my communities the Housing Corporation is seen as out of touch with the people’s needs.
When you live in a good home, make a good income in a regional centre or Yellowknife, there is a different attitude towards housing in places like Fort Resolution and Lutselk’e.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted.
I thought the NWT Housing Corporation was there to help people, but so far it appears that that is not the case. I will have questions for the Minister of the Housing Corporation later on today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.
