(March 4, 2013) - Mr. Speaker, when we developed our strategic plan, Building for the Future, residents told us that we needed to examine our homeownership programs and recognize the different role that homeownership plays in non-market communities than it plays in market communities and that changes were needed to our programs to make them more effective.

(February 25, 2013) - Mr. Speaker, I rise today to provide an update on plans for supported housing for seniors. One of the priorities of the NWT Housing Corporation’s strategic plan, Building for the Future, was to develop infrastructure based on community needs including approaches to support housing for seniors and aging in place.

YELLOWKNIFE (November 6, 2012) – The Honourable Robert C. McLeod, Minister Responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation (NWTHC) has announced a revised approach to helping homeownership clients address their mortgages and arrears.  This approach aims to provide client homeowners with a fresh start while meeting their responsibilities as homeowners.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to update Members on homeownership clients that have direct mortgages with the NWT Housing Corporation and steps we are taking to work in partnership with these clients to ensure they are able to provide their families with affordable, adequate and suitable housing, while meeting their responsibilities as homeowners.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to provide an update on the implementation of the new public housing rent scale. Implementation of the new rent scale started on July 1, 2012 and to date response has been very positive.

You will recall that the changes to the public housing rent scale was part of the 17^th Legislative Assembly’s strategic priorities and is a central piece of Building for the Future, the NWT Housing Corporation’s strategic plan.

YELLOWKNIFE (August 29, 2012) – The Transitional Rent Supplement Program will begin on September 1. It supports low- to moderate-income residents in private market rental housing, and provides a rent subsidy of up to $500 per month for two years.

YELLOWKNIFE (July 17, 2012) – The Northwest Territories Housing Corporation (NWTHC) will be accepting applications for 2013-2014 Housing Choices programs from August 1 to October 15, 2012.

Housing Choices provides support to help to low- and modest-income residents of the NWT become homeowners, complete preventative maintenance or major repairs to their homes, or learn more about owning a home.

June 7, 2012 - Mr. Speaker.  The new public housing rent scale is scheduled to be implemented on July 1, 2012. We recognize the changes we are making are significant and there will be an adjustment period for all tenants.

As you know, there have been concerns expressed about the impact of the changes on Seniors who reside without others in the house and often live on fixed income. These Seniors have been paying $0 rent under the old rent scale, but were to pay between $70 - $80 minimum rent using the new rent scale.

May 30, 2012 - The strategic framework Building for the Future: Northern Solutions for Northern Housing, released on April 16, 2012, outlines the direction that the Housing Corporation will be taking in delivering housing programs and services to NWT residents.

May 25, 2012 - Mr. Speaker, the Housing Corporation is committed to implementing a fair and sustainable public housing rent scale. It is one of the strategic actions outlined in Building for the Future: Northern Solutions for Northern Housing. It was also identified as a key component of the 17^th Legislative Assembly’s priority to address housing needs.