Housing groups call for state of emergency for Indigenous people in N.W.T.

Two national housing groups are calling on the Northwest Territories to declare a state of emergency for housing Indigenous people, particularly women and girls.

The National Indigenous Housing Network and Women's National Housing and Homeless Network say Housing NWT, the territory's housing agency, is failing northern Indigenous people.

"We're literally in a housing state of emergency," housing advocate Lisa Thurber said on behalf of the groups.

"These tenants are literally in tears," she said. "The biggest complaint is: 'I'm cold.' We live in the Northwest Territories for Pete's sake and most of the winter is cold, so what are we doing about that?"

Thurber, who recently formed a territorial tenants' association, said housing issues in the N.W.T. have been well documented.

Richard Edjericon, MLA for Tu Nedhé–Wiilideh, tabled photos in October depicting an insect infestation in a public housing unit in the Lanky Court apartment building in Yellowknife.

Last month, several other legislature members also raised concerns with public housing citing issues such as mould, pest-infestations, leaking sewage, broken windows, inadequate heating, high rental costs and arrears.

"The root of the problem is this government's inability or unwillingness to provide adequate housing for all our residents," Frame Lake MLA Kevin O'Reilly told the assembly. "Housing is not a priority with this government when we continue to spend more on roads than on housing and travel to Ottawa for mega projects over housing."

Kam Lake MLA Caitlin Cleveland subsequently raised concerns that Housing NWT doesn't collect data on the gender or ethnicity of people living in public housing or on people experiencing homelessness across the territory.

Beyond public housing, the 2021 census found just over 13 per cent of N.W.T. households were in need of core housing, meaning their dwellings did not meet at least one of adequacy, affordability or suitability standards. Yellowknife's latest point-in-time homeless account said 312 people experienced homelessness in the city in 2021.

Housing NWT, in partnership with local housing and community organizations, is responsible for more than 2,400 public housing units across the territory. It also offers a range of public and market housing programs and services, including a rent subsidy, homelessness assistance funding and a home-purchasing program.

The two housing networks are demanding Housing NWT release control over housing units and that a group of Indigenous advisers from across the territory oversee its decisions.

They are also calling for the dissolution of the housing corporation, saying Indigenous governments and organizations are best placed to address the territory's housing crisis.

"We have a plan. We're not just calling the state of emergency to say 'do something,"' Thurber said, adding the plan includes purchasing 70 off-grid homes to support those most in need.