Affordable housing funding welcomed

Hundreds of people are waiting for an affordable place to live in La Loche.

Some of the people on waiting lists live in overcrowded conditions. In some cases, up to seven people are packed into two-bedroom homes, said Brenda Janvier, a local family support worker.

Janvier works for the Dene Empowerment Centre in La Loche, which includes a six-unit temporary housing complex for single mothers.

The look of appreciation on the faces of children who come to live at the centre “speaks volumes” about the housing circumstances in La Loche, she said.

“They’re just happy to get their own room.”

During an Aug. 16 visit to La Loche, Premier Brad Wall announced that the provincial and federal governments will contribute about $1.4 million toward a new 14-unit affordable housing project to be completed by fall 2017.

Two village-owned non-profits, Methy Construction and Maintenance Corporation and Methy Housing Corporation, are to build and manage the project.

Chances are, some of the families living at the Dene Empowerment Centre may be relocated to one of the new homes, Janvier said.

“These 14 units are going to help a lot of families. It’s not going to be right away, but even thinking that there’s going to be houses available down the line gives people hope.”

Only so much government funding can be applied for each year, and new housing builds do not meet the community’s demand for affordable rental space, said Doug Gailey, manager of the Methy Housing Corporation.

“Because we have no housing market per se in the community, we have no private developers,” he said.

This leaves the community dependent on housing provided directly by the government or through Methy, he said.

The long waiting list virtually ensures there are never any vacancies, and it will take years before the list is significantly reduced.

The government money comes in the form of a “forgivable mortgage — a portion of the amount owing is waived each year after annual reports indicate the units are being kept affordable for those who need them.

The remaining $630,000 in project costs for the project is to be covered by Methy through community contributions and a loan, Gailey said.

The end result will be five duplexes and one fourplex. Monthly rent for the one of the units is expected to be $500 to $800, depending on their configuration, which Gailey says is comparable to that of other affordable units in the community.