Philippe Morin
Northern News Services
Monday, February 5, 2007

PAULATUK - Residents and officials in Paulatuk said they are growing tired of the hamlet's crowded public housing, as they await four new homes promised by the territorial government.

Former mayor and fire chief Keith Dodge, who is outgoing chair to the Paulatuk Housing Association, said in the meantime the association is trying to repair old units.

However, some of the homes are so decrepit it hardly seems worthwhile, he said.

"Some of our units are really old and I feel trying to repair them might be throwing good money after bad," he said.

Dodge added there are too few public housing units in the hamlet of about 300, which means existing units are often crowded.

"Overall, there are not enough units," he said, estimating the hamlet could use another 12 to 15 new spaces.

"I know there are some families which are doubled or tripled up."

In the fall of last year, then housing minister David Krutko visited Paulatuk alongside Nunakput MLA Calvin Pokiak.

The two held a public meeting to discuss housing, and also toured some damaged units.

While they agreed new buildings were required, shipping lanes did not permit building materials to be brought immediately.

In the months since, the housing association has fixed some problems encountered during the tour, Dodge said, adding it cannot do much more.

Pokiak said that some elements for repairs - such as new windows and doorframes - will be delivered in the spring, when shipping lanes open.

For the time being, he said, he will continue to raise the issue in the legislature and reiterate the shipment's importance.

"My job as MLA is to make sure the money is in the budget, so that those housing units arrive (in Paulatuk) and they are not sent somewhere else," he said.

One resident of Paulatuk's public housing, Frances Wolki, described her family's three-bedroom house as fit to be condemned.

She told News/North the house had visible mould inside window frames, cracks in the ceiling, an old splintery wood plank used as a kitchen countertop and - on one occasion four years ago - a gap in the floor so large her daughter had one leg fall through.

While some of these problems have been fixed, Wolki said, the new homes will definitely be appreciated - even if four units are not enough to satisfy the community's current needs.

"In all communities in the NWT, there seems to be a shortage of housing everywhere. There's overcrowding in units," she said.

Dodge said the new housing units will be built on the site of the community's old airfield, where the flat ground is perfect for housing 'pads.'

"Construction could begin as soon as temperatures get warm," he said.