Iqaluit (May 29/06) - Where's the housing money going? It's the best-kept secret in Nunavut: how $200 million in federal money earmarked for badly-needed housing will be spent.

Housing minister Olayuk Akesuk flatly refused to discuss it in an interview Thursday.

Akesuk is expected to announce delivery and construction projects for this year sometime in early June.

At the Nunavut Housing Corporation, Peter Scott, the president, would only say: "we're working on it."

Iglulik mayor Paul Quassa said his community needs at least 100 new housing units but holds little hope for 2006. "We certainly aren't getting anything this year," he said.

With a population that is made up of 42 per cent youth who are starting to have families, Quassa said Iglulik is running out of room to grow. And even the mayor is affected by the housing crunch: Quassa has three daughters over the age of 20 still living with him.

Hall Beach mayor Paul Haulli said housing shortages are a problem everywhere in the territory. He doesn't expect his community will get any new units this year, but was fortunate to see 10 new units built last year.

"It's a problem, but it's a little better here now," he said.

Resolute mayor Susan Salluviniq said her community should see a five-unit building built this summer. "It should help," she said, but added Resolute could still use some single-family houses.