The revitalized Nunavut Homeownership Assistance Program (NHAP) was announced on Aug. 21 by Housing Minister Lorne Kusugak.
This program, with applications due by Oct. 18, would give approved Nunavummiut access to a loan of $250,000 towards the purchase and shipping of materials for their new home, with a period of up to 10 years for loan forgiveness. It will also offer home ownership education, in addition to project management and supervision throughout the construction process.
“At this stage,” said Sierra Leblanc, communications consultant for the Nunavut Housing Corporation (NHC), “the team anticipates being able to support 10-15 applicants this year through the program.”
Marla Limousin, the executive director of the Nunavut Association of Municipalities, is pleased to see the GN modernize the NHAP.
“I think it’s wonderful,” she said. “Our members feel it’s wonderful. It’s what they did in the '80s, so it’s nice to see housing going back on the market to be available.
“If we look back at what building a house means for a person and communities that will be eligible for that type of housing... I’ve been around since the '80s and have seen the effects of that type of program. A lot of people still have housing and have been able to pass that on to their children... There's also the trades developing and continuing to be developed in communities... it’s prideful for the community, it just re-energizes the community, and we need that energy. I think we have to do something, and that energy is really good.”
Iqaluit-Manirajak MLA Adam Lightstone can foresee roadblocks in the capital city, however.
“It’s not likely to benefit Iqaluit without any developed land. Even when the city is able to develop a new subdivision, it would be unlikely that many NHAP-approved applications will win the lot lottery.
“It would be great if NHC could come to an agreement to purchase a few lots for the NHAP program,” he added.
Limousin made clear that she was speaking on behalf of the communities outside of Iqaluit.
“For all of them that do have land that is available or preparing land for development... this is part of Nunavut 3000... for us, it’s a good news story," she said. "In Iqaluit, it’s a different situation, but other communities are prepared or are preparing for development.”
