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