Hundreds seek housing

Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Jun 18/01) - Even with of new public and private programs, the government can't seem to make a dent in the housing crisis controlling the territory.

After spending millions of dollars over the last few years, there are twice as many applicants -- 1,400 families -- waiting for access to shelter.

Housing facts: There are 3,734 public housing units in Nunavut There are about 1,600 private homeowners in Nunavut Roughly 60 per cent of Nunavummiut reside in public housing 50 new units in 2001: Arctic Bay - 4 Arviat - 2 Baker Lake - 4 Clyde River - 5 Coral Harbour - 4 Hall Beach - 4 Iglulik - 4 Kimmirut - 2 Kugaaruk/Pelly Bay - 4 Pond Inlet - 5 Repulse Bay - 4 Sanikiluaq - 4 Taloyoak - 4 costs between $1,200-$1,500 per month for a private one-bedroom apartment; $2,000 for a two-bedroom apartment; $2,400-$2,500 for a three-bedroom unit average selling price of a home in Iqaluit is $240,000 Using the system of number of tenants in each public housing unit, the department states Pond Inlet is most in need of housing, followed by Clyde River -- Resolute Bay is at the bottom of the list

Susan Spring has managed the Iqaluit Housing Authority since 1993 -- the same year the federal government quit building social housing units. Optimistic but fast becoming weary of the struggle for more, Spring said her list of 65 applicants was an all-time high for the capital.

"I'm always hopeful ... but it's worse than it was," said Spring.

Spring said factors like young Nunavummiut trying to strike out on their own and people moving into Iqaluit from other communities had severely taxed local resources.

She added that fire and pipe damage had made five vacant units unavailable, making the wait for shelter even longer.

A ray of hope

That said, Spring is hopeful about Housing Minister Manitok Thompson's efforts to alleviate the housing crunch.

Her ministry funded construction of 100 new social housing units last year, and has budgeted $10.2 million to build 50 more units this season.

The government minister has also leased 33 private homes for social housing clients at a cost of $5 million over five years and is working on a program that will allow long-time social housing renters to purchase their units.

The recent initiatives also include $2 million worth of efforts to increase the number of homeowners.

Downpayment assistance, new construction initiatives and renovation programs are all available to low- to middle-income Nunavummiut.

"We're trying to help the people who might not have enough money," said Thompson.

Nunavut realtor John Matthews also commended the various programs, but said that sector of residents trying to rent housing and remain self-sufficient faced a real struggle.

"Those individuals who can't afford the rates and are trying to make ends meet without social housing, I don't think the supply is going to meet the demand any time soon," said Matthews.

He said people who don't have high-incomes or who receive subsidized social or staff housing would face continued problems finding homes.

"Lower priced units are not being built. It's geared to the upper-end renters."