Housing Department I recently attended a CMHC Workshop in Vancouver. The workshop was Charging and Collecting for Housing Programs and Services on Reserve. True costs - We learned about true costs of delivering rental units on reserve and what happens when members don't pay. When members don't pay, maintenance and repairs cannot be done because there isn't enough revenue coming in from rent payments to do them. When maintenance and repairs are being done the housing units deteriorate and end up in a state of disrepair, which means the band has to apply for renovation dollars to bring them back to a standard living unit again. In most cases the funds applied for are not enough so the house doesn't get completely renovated and only health & safety is considered. Mold being a major health issue.
- We also learned that implementing housing and rental policies and following them is essential to a viable housing stock on Reserve. If they are not implemented and followed the number of units we need to build continue to decline because of nonpayment of rents and a continued rise in arrears each and every year! With a continued rise in rental arrears every year CMHC sees that we are not abiding by a policy or a rental agreement which results in no funding for future housing for our 70+ community members who are waiting on the housing list. Community involvement - Community involvement is one of the key ingredients to a viable and sustainable housing portfolio in a community. All community members need to understand that Housing is an asset and once they are run down and in a state of disrepair they are no longer worth what it cost to build them. Community members need to understand
GWA’SALA-’NAKWAXDA’XW NATIONS YO! NEWS
March 13, 2015 3 Indian registry Training Program/ Social Development update 4-5 Elders update 6 Trust committee Presentation 7 Testing emergency warning system 8 Adult Education tutoring schedule 9 Call out list 10 G-n Recycle Depot 11 Harvey Walkus Memorial Hockey tournament 12 Residential School Survivor Birthday Celebration 13 A dinner of Traditional Kwakiutl and international food 14 Flea Market 15 Project Funraising 16 Forestry Engineering and operation last call for intrest 17 Port hardy medical Clinic 18-20 Local job Posting 21 Birthday Wishes/Request
Housing & Rental Policy
PAGE 1
YO! News
that Polices and rental agreements need to be followed by all members, and support Chief and Council in the implementation of the Policies when necessary. Chief and Council - Implementing Policies and rental agreements for a sustainable and viable housing portfolio is the key to attaining better living qualities for the people and setting standards to be followed by all community members. Supporting staff and members equally with no exception to any rule of the policies or rental agreements is a step in the right direction to achieving this goal for all members of the community.
Thank you Lorna Henderson
03/13/2015