Fort Simpson (Nov 24/06) - Kevin Allen would like to build his own house, but living in public housing is making that dream hard to follow.

With a rent based on his income, Allen said he feels penalized when he tries to get a larger paycheque so he can save up for his house project.

"I want to do better for myself but I'm almost compelled not to," Allen said.

Allen was among those who spoke out on Nov. 14 at a meeting in Fort Simpson attended by Premier Joe Handley, the minister responsible for the housing corporation, and MLA Kevin Menicoche.

The rent structure should be reorganized so people can save for a few months before their rent increases, Allen suggested.

Handley said he hopes to change the rent guidelines so they're based on the quality of the house.

Anyone who thinks they are getting ahead by staying in public housing is fooling themselves, he said.

"I'd like to get as many people as possible in their own houses," Handley said.

Both the quality and quantity of houses available are also a problem for the area.

The Dehcho Divisional Education Council has significant problems finding housing for staff, said Nolan Swartzentruber, the superintendent of the council.

"We are in a very difficult position," he said.

All the communities in the Deh Cho are affected including Fort Simpson, he said.

Swartzentruber said it's hard to find effective staff because of the housing situation.

One teacher left after only two days in a community because the housing unit was that bad, he said.

In other communities, only teaching couples can be hired because of the housing available.

The board even gets calls from nurses who are looking for housing, said Swartzentruber.

"It's a serious problem and I think it's only going to get worse," he said.

The government is prepared to bring in more market houses to help alleviate the problem as long as local leadership agrees to it and there is land available, said Handley.

"Although the government generally doesn't like to interfere where there are private sector options, we will if there isn't enough good quality housing," he said.

The fate of Dehcho Hall was also on the minds of some of the 20 residents at the meeting.

"I'd like to make another plea that consideration be given to keep this facility available for years to come," said Swartzentruber.

While government departments will get a new facility, the non-profit organizations that are in the hall because they can't afford to be anywhere else will be left homeless, said Swartzentruber.

"It will be a huge loss for our children," said Sharon Allen.

The government is moving down the path to a new building, confirmed Handley. Community leaders are the ones who need to make a plan for the non-profit organizations, he said.

Handley suggested that the Community Capacity Building Fund should have been used to buy space in the new building that will be constructed.

Transportation was also part of the discussion.

MLA Kevin Menicoche announced that the Department of Transportation is looking seriously at changing the Liard River crossing to an on demand service.

Preliminary findings from tests have shown that timed crossings don't appear to save much fuel, he said.