Thank you, masi, Mr. Speaker. Question for the Minister responsible for NWT Housing. So first question is basing rent of someone's income discouraging people to work. Why are people who are working penalized with increased rent?
Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Minister responsible for Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Housing Corporation tries to provide subsidized rent for the Northwest Territories. And I know that we can do better, and I know through the renewal that we do have that, you know, this is one of the policies that we will be reviewing as well. But the Housing Corporation right now calculates rent as low as 4 percent and 19 percent. Throughout Canada, it's 30 percent that is required for subsidized housing. So we're one of the lowest for the jurisdictions throughout the territory I mean, throughout Canada. But it doesn't stop us from reviewing that as well. Like, I hear the Member as well because we did get a number of tenants that had acquired the CERB funding as well, and it's really provided a lot of, you know, just different calculations this year, including the that funding that was received by the client as well, and I do hear the Member. The Housing Corporation will provide more communications to the local housing authorities and our service providers as well too. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you. I was not talking about CERB, but that's okay. And then at least they admit that, you know, they can do better job.
So I think with the with reference to the first questions, I know that there are leaders in the community, they would like to work with the Housing Corporations on drafting policy in this area as well. So second questions, with so many people living in inadequate housing, even those who are paying max rent, maximum rent, so we would like to know what's happening to the revenue.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to just inform, like, just the House and the Member as well too that the Housing Corporation's lowest rent that we collect is $75. And with the $75, we do have the utilities and utilities that are included in that rent as well too, property taxes and leases as well, and we try to work with the client to have affordable rent calculated in the Northwest Territories. And we are going to be working with the Council of Leaders as well too, that will have the opportunity to review our policies. So we do practice and encourage our engagements as well too with the with the Indigenous groups as well.
And I just wanted to comment on the CERB funding that I had identified, is that we see a really huge increase, rent increase throughout the Northwest Territories, and it is due to CERB. So there's a lot of assessments that are being done right now as well too to not include the CERB payments that were received last year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Okay, thank you. She didn't answer my questions. I want to know what happened to those people who are paying maximum rent, what happens to the revenue? That's what I would like to know.
But I am aware now that there are renttoown program. There are renttoown program in the communities. Can the Minister give us an update on how many people in the NWT are in renttoown program and when these tenants will become a homeowners? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And for the renttoown program, it is our HELP program that we do have throughout the Northwest Territories, and I don't have those numbers in front of me. But the Housing Corporation right now is doing a full review of all our mortgage clients right now, and I have told the department that I would like to see those units transferred within my time, to have those homeownership programs completed and closed off.
I think there's approximately 234 throughout the Northwest Territories that have entered into the mortgage homeownership program.
And also just going back to the question for what happens to the revenue. The Housing Corporation acquires about $5 million annually in rent received from our public housing units, but that also goes back into the operation and maintenance of the units as well too, and it's about $20,000 for operation and maintenance for the 2300 units throughout the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Monfwi.
More questions. Okay. The NWT Housing Corporation has several homes homeownership program. Approvals to participate in this in these program is low, okay. So can the Minister of NWT Corporation commit to guaranteeing an application approval rate that reflects national homeownership rates? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Right now all of our singlefamily housing dwellings are up for sale. Today we have 105 applications that have been received, and the Housing Corporation tries to work very diligently with the client in trying to help them to become successful in the homeownership program. But nationally, I don't have those numbers in front of me. I'd have to follow up with the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.
