For the info of our Members there is a copy of the Bands Housing Policy on our Eel Ground web site for any interested in understanding how the Bands Social Housing Units are selected. We have had it in place for 3 years in an effort to de-politicize the process and make it fair and accessible for all. There are many members who have special needs and requirements and most wish the waiting list was shorter but refrain from bashing Council and using their disabilities to turn the process into a popularity contest. There are over 50 applicants for these 2 units. Emergency aid is available for short term situations but we dont have surplus homes available for emergencies. The 2 units we have received this year will be allocated on the recommendations of the Band Housing Committee in late August. We had put out a request a couple of months ago asking for members willing to sit on committees and the names received will fill any vacant seats in early August. We will also be looking at alternative housing projects where members would be willing to rent to own and we will be utilizing our own trained members to construct our social housing units this year. The community carries the entire cost of the existing housing program, which limits the units that can be made available. Our housing density(people per unit) is just over 2.6 members per unit, that does not help arguments that we are short of total units. There is no utility in building smaller homes as CMHC will not allow any savings to be transferred to build additional units. Some members are building on their own via Section 10 loans but must be able to get a registered financial institution to provide the loan. The wait time is much shorter if you pay your own way. To close , First Nations do not get free homes, section 95 social houses are mortgages the community assumes for 25 years and with 2 units available again this year there will be much more disappointment than celebration.
Posted on: Tue, 29 Jul 2014 01:40:58 +0000