As part of Housing NWT’s Renewal Strategy, the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has updated and modernized the points rating system used to prioritize public housing clients.

Public housing applicants who have met the eligibility criteria undergo prioritization using a rating system that allocates an applicant a given number of points for certain needs (e.g., not enough bedrooms in their current accommodation; not enough income to pay for their current accommodation, inadequacy of their current accommodation).

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has released a draft Homelessness Strategy, titled A Way Home: A Comprehensive Strategy to Address Homelessness in the Northwest Territories, and is seeking feedback from the public.

Addressing ongoing housing issues across the Northwest Territories (NWT) has been and remains a key mandate priority of the GNWT. While the GNWT currently provides safe housing options for those in need of assistance through shelters and multiple programs, homelessness remains a reality experienced by far too many residents.

On April 1 the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) will launch a two-year pilot project to support the start up and operation of licensed family day homes in public housing units.

The pilot project, led by Housing NWT and the department of Education, Culture and Employment, is focused on non-market housing communities where no licensed early learning and child care programs currently exist. Non-market communities are those that do not have private rental options.

Communities participating in the pilot:

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Mr. Speaker, I want to share with you some of the exciting things happening at Housing Northwest Territories that are a direct result of our renewal strategy. 

Since the initiation of the strategy, Housing NWT has worked with the Council of Leaders to revise and modernize its mandate and use that mandate to guide the review of our policies and programs. We are now in the process of implementing the changes coming from that review.

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Mr. Speaker, addressing housing needs in the Northwest Territories cannot be done by any single government. We must continue to build and strengthen partnerships: partnerships with Indigenous governments, Indigenous organizations, community governments, Non-government Organizations, private companies, and  the Government of Canada.

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Mr. Speaker, as part of the GNWT’s commitment to address homelessness in the territory, Housing NWT offers several client centred programs. Today I would like to highlight some of these programs as well as the investments we have made since the beginning of the 19th Legislative Assembly to support residents experiencing homelessness and those at risk of becoming homeless.

Guided by Housing Northwest Territories’ (NWT) renewal strategy, the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has streamlined processes for homeowner repair programs.

Housing NWT is going back to a single intake deadline annually for the following homeowner repair programs:

The attached is being distributed on behalf of the Délı̨nę Got’ı̨nę Government and the Government of the Northwest Territories.

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Mr. Speaker, today I would like to provide an update on the progress of Housing NWT’s Community Housing Plans, which is a comprehensive, detailed information document to better direct housing investment in NWT communities.

Through partnerships with Indigenous governments, community governments, and stakeholders, over the last three years housing plans have been completed in Fort Good Hope, Whatì, Paulatuk, Enterprise, Nahanni Butte, and the Kátł’odeeche First Nation.

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Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform this House that the draft NWT Energy Management Strategy is out for public feedback until February 21, 2023.  

This strategic approach will support both Housing NWT’s energy goals and objectives, as well the strategic objectives of the GNWT’s 2030 Energy Strategy, and a long-term view towards guiding energy management decisions and investments. The strategy will also support skills training, economic development opportunities and more reliable and sustainable energy systems for Housing NWT.