Housing NWT and the Acho Dene Koe First Nation have signed an agreement to formalize their cooperation on housing projects in Fort Liard.
Under the terms of the agreement, announced this week, a housing working group will be created featuring members of ADKFN, the First Nation’s economic development corporation – ADK Holdings – and the Government of the Northwest Territories.
The working group will advance planning for social housing, plan for construction and repair of housing, and explore joint housing service delivery, a news release stated.
“It’ll give us a forum for talking directly about the housing situation in the community,” said ADKFN general manager Boyd Clark.
Like many places across the territory, he said, the existing housing stock in Fort Liard is of growing concern.
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“Many of the homes are in difficult conditions for habitation, needing substantial repairs, to the extent that there are many homes that are beyond conditional repair,” said Clark.
“There’s a definite need for both upgrading of homes that can be repaired and construction of new homes.”
He said existing support available through the federal and territorial governments often falls short, especially when it comes to supporting social housing.
While the First Nation is a signatory on the agreement, ADK Holdings will be the “boots on the ground,” Clark explained, because housing falls under the responsibilities of the economic development arm.
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Clark said it’s too early to know exactly what the role of the working group will be.
“I would say it’s premature at this point to say how we’ll all function – that will be figured out in the next number of months,” said Clark.
Also to be decided is whether there might be any funding associated with delivery of the agreement, Clark said.
“It’s exciting that the GNWT recognizes, and through its Crown Corporation, the necessary need to slowly invest in more decentralized delivery of housing,” said Clark, adding the agreement stemmed from bilateral meetings with the GNWT.
“This is very encouraging and highly supportive.”
