Association backs Nunavut’s housing requests

The National Aboriginal Housing Association has endorsed Nunavut’s call for the federal government to reinstate a social housing program for the territory.

“The National Aboriginal non-reserve housing strategy will take special note of the unique housing difficulties faced by Nunavut Inuit and will urge the federal government to re-instate a long-term social housing program for Nunavut Inuit,” the association’s resolution says.

The Nunavut Housing Corporation and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. made a presentation to the NAHA’s annual meeting in late March.

“Public housing tenants are suffering most from Nunavut’s housing shortage, and the majority of these tenants are Inuit,” said NTI president Paul Kaludjak. “Funding for the territory is simply not sufficient to address existing needs. There is a substantial backlog of unmet needs and it is growing constantly as our population increases.”

The NHC and NTI are working on a business case that outlines Nunavut’s need for more federal money to address severe housing shortages in the territory.

“The recent NAHA resolution means that Nunavut’s message is being heard,” said Peter Kilabuk, the minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation.