A housing crisis has plagued Labrador for years and results in rising homelessness and overcrowded housing. But one-fifth of provincial-managed housing is empty in Inuit communities. The province says it is working to renovate them, but the wait continues for years, in some cases.
Of the half -house in Nain, the northernmost village in Labrador, 8 of the 34 apartments are unoccupied. For a community of 1,125 people, that’s a lot, explains transition house director Nicole Dicker.
The housing shortage has forced many families to cram many generations into homes made for four or five people, he said. When there is no space, some have to sleep on the couch or even on the floor.
” It prevents young families, victims of violence and people experiencing homelessness from moving forward. […] We all know someone who needs an apartment. “
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation manages 56 units in the Inuit communities of Nain, Hopedale and Makkovik, according to spokeswoman Jenny Bowring. Twelve were unoccupied, awaiting arrangements, and only one did not need much work. Eleven of these units have been empty for over a year, four of them for nearly three years.
Complicated work, unattractive to entrepreneurs
According to Jenny Bowring, the money can be used to finance the work. The problem is instead to find contractors who will do the work. A call for tenders made it possible to find contractors for two of the eleven dwellings that must undergo major renovations. He is did not succeed for the other nine, he explains.
That’s not surprising, according to Joe Dicker, the AngajukKak, or mayor, of the Inuit government of Nain. Many coastal communities located in northern Labrador, such as Nain and Hopedale, are only accessible by plane or by ferry, which are only active for half a year, when there is not much ice. But because the boat is cheaper than the plane, it is usually the mode of transportation used, which means there is only a small window of time to deliver the material and carry out the work.
The solution? The government should hire someone who can stay in the village year-round to do the work and maintenance and find a place to store supplies, Joe Dicker said.
Lela Evans, the New Democratic Party MLA for the region, also urged the Newfoundland and Labrador governments to make sure housing is regularly maintained. He filed a petition signed by residents asking for the plan in the provincial legislature on April 13th.
It is unacceptable that one-fifth of the dwellings are emptydid he say. They have to find a way to get the job done throughout the year.
Provincial Social Development Minister John Abbott admitted that the apartments had been empty for a long time. But since there are so few houses to maintain, it is impossible to have an employee look after them throughout the year.
The government will launch another call for tenders in the coming weeks, John Abbott assured. If this one is not more effective than the first, it may be necessary to make the offer more attractive, he admits.
” We have plans and budgets and everything to make sure it’s done this year. I am determined to do it this year. “
The housing crisis has been raging for several years in Nain, Mayor Joe Dicker assured. Because of the overcrowding in the houses, its inhabitants are more at risk of contracting diseases such as tuberculosis. A 14-year-old teenager from the community died in 2018.
With information from Sarah Smellie of CBC
Source: Radio-Canada
