A new strategy from the Government of Nunavut aims to increase the housing stock in the territory by 3,000 units by 2030.

The plan is called Igluliuqatigiingniq, which means “building houses together.” Through it, Nunavut Housing Corporation (NHC) will engage, incentivize and support housing sector stakeholders to increase the housing supply over the next eight years.

“Since the inception of Nunavut, we’ve struggled with many things, but everything stems from struggling with housing,” said Lorne Kusugak, minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation, during the plan’s announcement in Rankin Inlet Tuesday, Oct. 18.

“Many of our homes – most of our homes – are overcrowded and in need of repair.”

The strategy would triple the rate of new public housing units being constructed, as well as facilitate the delivery of affordable, transitional and market units, according to NHC.

Of the 3,000 units, 1,400 are planned to be public housing, 300 transitional housing units or beds, 900 affordable housing units and 400 market housing units.

The partnership includes NCC Development Limited, which envisions building 2,000 of those units in a 10-year agreement with NHC.

Government statistics as of March 2022 show more than 3,000 applicants currently waiting for housing on the public housing list.

“It’s incredible what our youth and children go through,” said Kusugak in his speech. “They live in a house made for three or four people and they have to share it with 10 to 20 people in the same household. Where do they find a place to sleep, eat, do their homework? It’s incredible that they do succeed. And I think it’s time we pull up our boots in Nunavut and begin to work harder to build more houses for Nunavummiut. They deserve better.”

Plans for the Kivalliq include the construction of 295 new housing units in Arviat, 180 in Baker Lake, 20 in Chesterfield Inlet, 75 in Coral Harbour, 75 in Naujaat, 310 in Rankin Inlet and 35 in Whale Cove.

Public housing waitlist as of March 31, 2022

Qikiqtaaluk

Arctic Bay 92

Clyde River 38

Grise Fiord 10

Iglulik 162

Iqaluit 563

Kimmirut 25

Kinngait 206

Pangnirtung 120

Pond Inlet 89

Qikiqtarjuaq 52

Resolute Bay 13

Sanikiluaq 37

Sanirajak 53

Kivalliq

Arviat 289

Baker Lake 178

Chesterfield Inlet 30

Coral Harbour 102

Naujaat 108

Rankin Inlet 258

Whale Cove 58

Kitikmeot

Cambridge Bay 131

Gjoa Haven 117

Kugaaruk 47

Kugluktuk 122

Taloyoak 121

Total 3,021

Source: Government of Nunavut

Preliminary target housing allocations

Arctic Bay 60

Arviat 295

Baker Lake 180

Cambridge Bay 140

Chesterfield Inlet 20

Clyde River 85

Coral Harbour 75

Gjoa Haven 110

Grise Fiord 10

Iglulik 160

Iqaluit 610

Kimmirut 15

Kinngait 85

Kugaaruk 35

Kugluktuk 75

Naujaat 75

Pangnirtung 85

Pond Inlet 80

Qikiqtarjuaq 25

Rankin Inlet 310

Resolute Bay 15

Sanikiluaq 30

Sanirajak 25

Taloyoak 65

Whale Cove 35

Total 3,000

Source: Government of Nunavut

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