FORT GOOD HOPE (February 16 2021) – Paulie Chinna, Minister Responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation (NWTHC) and Julie Green, Minister Responsible for Seniors, are pleased to announce the completion of the Fort Good Hope Seniors Centre – a supported independent living complex for Northwest Territories (NWT) seniors. 

The completion of this building will allow for the provision of supports to seniors in Fort Good Hope so that they can remain in their community as they age, surrounded by friends and family. Enabling seniors to age in place with dignity is a mandate priority of the 19^th Legislative Assembly and requires a whole-of-government approach that crosses many departments.

This new nine-plex building is the last of five complexes constructed across the NWT that were designed in collaboration with the Department of Health and Social Services with input from the community.

The seniors’ nine-plex includes features that will assist residents in their day-to-day living. Some of these supports include no-step entrances to suites, wider doorways and a main floor bathroom, two barrier free units and a caretaker’s unit. A common space can be used for the delivery of Health and Social Services programming.

With the population of seniors in the NWT set to increase in coming years, the housing corporation is investing in seniors’ independent housing facilities that will support aging in place.

Quotes

“The Housing Corporation and the GNWT are committed to helping seniors stay in their home communities for as long as possible.  A crucial part of ensuring the health and well-being of our elders is housing and I am pleased to have worked with the community leadership and local businesses to work on this project.  Together we are ensuring our elders can stay in their home communities, surrounded by their family, friends and familiar supports.”

• Paulie Chinna, Minister Responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation and Minister Responsible for Addressing Homelessness

“NWT seniors are valued and loved members of our communities and families and the GNWT wants to make sure they are able to live safe, independent lives and stay connected to the people they love.”

• Julie Green, Minister Responsible for Seniors

 Quick Facts

• The GNWT has designed five of these seniors nine-plex units that support aging-in-place. These units are located in Aklavik, Fort Liard, Fort Good Hope, Fort McPherson, and Whatı̀. All are now complete and operational.
• The NWTHC is also increasing supports for seniors to stay in their homes and communities by amending NWTHC policies.
• Under these changes, the assessment of household income for homeownership programs will only consider the incomes of the applicant and co-applicant. In the past, this assessment included the incomes of all income earners in the household.
• In rural and remote communities, having insurance and land tenure is no longer a requirement to access NWTHC home repair programs. 
• In addition to Minister Chinna and Minister Green, MLA Cleveland (Kam Lake) also attended the opening.

For more information, contact:

Nancy Zimmerman

Communications Advisor

Northwest Territories Housing Corp.

NWTHC_Comms@gov.nt.ca