Canada Community Housing Initiative Sustaining the legacy of the Social Housing Agreement

Minister Alfred Moses

April 4, 2019

Social Housing Agreement Units

• Units built under the Social Housing Agreement are a critical piece of housing infrastructure in our jurisdiction.

• There is limited market employment in our small, isolated and

remote communities. • Having deep rent-geared-to-income housing is critical for the

health and well being of our residents. • Canada Community Housing Initiative will help address the funding

decline over the life of the National Housing Strategy.

Canada Community Housing Initiative

• Our allocation is $43 million over the term of the National Housing Strategy.

• This funding starts in 2019-2020, and will see over $1 million in investment between

the GNWT and Canada in the first year.

• In keeping with the intention of the fund we will be using that money to protect and sustain the affordability for the households currently living in housing supported under the Social Housing Agreement.

• It is also intended to support repair and renewal of the existing supply, and expansion of the supply of community-based housing.

Supporting existing units • In order to keep the existing stock financially and physically

viable. • Extending the design life of each public housing unit to 50 years

through maintenance schedules and modern materials. • Building multiplex units which are more economical to construct

and heat and cost-effective to maintain. • Developed seniors facilities that allow seniors to age in their own

communities surrounded by loved ones.

Expanding the continuum • Smaller and remote communities face many barriers to private

developers. Without private market rentals and homeownership options community members are reliant on social housing.

• Some occupants are financially able to afford market rental rates and homeownership.

• Developing a suite of programs to provide tenants in social housing with affordable homeownership options that meet their needs.

Community Led Housing Solutions

• Successful partnerships at the community level need community involvement and ownership.

• Initiated the Community Housing Support Initiative to support

to Indigenous and Local Governments.

• Supports the implementation innovative and community-driven housing projects of their own design.

Community Led Housing Solutions

• Currently conducting Community Housing Plans that will provide communities the tools to direct the future of housing in their communities.

• These plans have community involvement and more

importantly have community ownership.

The Future • The National Housing Strategy and the Canada

Community Housing Initiative is a welcome investment. • All jurisdictions in Canada recognize the importance of

the role that social housing plays in our communities. • We need to ensure that this legacy remains supported

even after the end of the National Housing Strategy funding.

The End