Council supports homes for homeless
Federal initiative at work after Northern Properties closes door to income assistance clients
Sarah Ladik
Northern News Services
Thursday, August 20, 2015
INUVIK
The Northwest Territories Housing Corp. is one step closer to creating more affordable housing in the community.
Smith Apartments on Bompas Road have been declared federal surplus and are now set to be transformed into low-cost housing for people displaced by Northern Properties REIT's new policy regarding income assistance clients. - Sarah Ladik/NNSL photo
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With support from town council, the housing corp. is looking to turn Smith Apartments on Bompas Road into 10 units for displaced income assistance clients.
According to a letter sent from the Housing Corp. to Inuvik town council, Northern Properties REIT announced it would not be accepting income assistance clients as tenants unless they can guarantee one year's worth of rent.
"As these clients are assessed on a monthly basis, this has left many with the inability to obtain private market housing and with uncertainty of housing on a monthly basis," the letter reads.
"This proposal will provide security of housing for these applicants who may be currently homeless or at risk of homelessness."
The proposal was widely supported by town council, whose approval is part of the procedure that must be followed under the government proposal. Some, however, are looking to the root of the problem while praising the solution.
"I think it's reprehensible what they're doing," Coun. Clarence Wood told the Drum in reference to the Northern Properties policy.
"They're discriminating against one group. We all sign a lease we're expected to live up to, and for those on income support it's the same."
Wood also said the policy fails to comprehend the basic nature of income assistance being a temporary measure. While some, including disabled people and the elderly, can be reasonably certain of their eligibility for the program in the long term, the vast majority of clients are meant to be finding work.
"When I first heard about it, I was shocked," Wood said, adding that he supports the new housing as a good idea.
"There's people that just don't have a place to live. It's a good idea as long as it's properly monitored."
Northern Properties REIT did not respond to multiple attempts to contact them for a comment as of press time.
The building which has been declared federal surplus has 16 units. Ten units are to be converted so they can house income assistance clients. The remainder will be split between a caretakers' unit and public housing units.
"Because it's going to become assisted housing, the town has to support it and we obviously do," said senior administrative officer Grant Hood.
"We're pretty socially conscious. We have our problems just like anywhere else and this is an opportunity to solve something."
