Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of housing today.
Following up on my Member's statement, so as part of the latest homeownership program that was recently discontinued, the homeownership entry level program, or HELP, 190 new units were constructed between 2006 and 2011. And does the Minister happen to know how many of those 190 units that were originally constructed actually ended up being transferred to the tenants to allow them to become homeowners? Or can the Minister commit to at least get back to me with that total number that turned into actually homeownership units? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. Minister of Housing NWT.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In terms of the HELP units that were constructed back in 2007, the numbers include 21 units that have been transferred to tenants since the start of HELP. And the breakdown is Beaufort Delta, 4 units; Nahendeh, 3 units; the North Slave, 4 units; the Sahtu, 2 units; and the South Slave, 8 units. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Minister for having those numbers on hand.
So 21 out of 190 units is a pretty low percentage I think we can all agree. Can the Minister explain what were some of the barriers or challenges that prevented more of those HELP tenants from actually achieving that homeownership that they set out to achieve when they joined the program? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think of challenges in homeownership would include like capacity to pay the utilities. Sometimes they fall into arrears. Sometimes family situations change. And sometimes they don't want to no longer be a homeowner. So upkeep of the unit, again, this is something that homeowners face every day in the Northwest Territories. So this would be another challenge. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Housing NWT. Final supplementary. Member from Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm sure we could have a much longer conversation too about all the barriers and challenges. But we have a new homeownership initiative program now that's sort of superceded the old. So how has the current HIP program been designed differently to try to overcome some of those challenges, or what different result do we expect this time? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, like homeownership is a challenge in the Northwest Territories. So what housing's doing differently now is they're providing counselling, they're providing budgeting sessions, they're providing those with arrears an opportunity to pay off their arrears so they can become eligible. And also with the HIP program, it is a forgivable loan over three to five years so the tenant would become the owner of the house through a forgivable loan which would zero out at the end of those years. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister responsible for Housing NWT. Oral questions. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
