A number of Northern housing issues were recently discussed at a special symposium.
The NWT Housing Forum brought together several different Municipal, Indigenous, and Government leaders for a two-day, in-person gathering to talk about the various issues affecting the North when it comes to constructing and maintaining affordable housing. The event focussed on the current state of housing, and what can be done to make things easier in the future.
Some of the other topics that were discussed included:
- Skills and Workforce Development;
- Territorial Housing Needs Assessment;
- Construction Innovation and Design;
- Federal Funding Sources;
- Service Integration and Housing Stability; and
- Collaboration Opportunities.
Lucy Kuptana, the Minister Responsible for Housing NWT, spoke on the importance of this discussion.
“Collaboration and partnership continue to be essential in the housing sector. The discussions and conversations that took place at this housing symposium will help the GNWT, Indigenous Governments, and community partners better understand the territory’s housing needs, and highlight those needs to the Federal Government. By continuing to leverage our collective strengths, knowledge and resources, we can develop sustainable and innovative solutions that address the unique needs of our communities, and create more homes for Northerners.”
After the meeting was done, some of the leaders noted that the Forum helped to improve the already existing partnerships between the various governing bodies.
The symposium falls under the NWT Housing Forum, which is co-chaired by Housing NWT and an Indigenous government, was established in early 2023 to promote coordination and collaboration among participating NWT governments in the housing sphere.
The NWT Housing Forum is for member NWT governments (Indigenous Governments and Housing NWT) and invited participants to collaborate and share information on housing-related issues in the territory. The Forum meets virtually every quarter and holds an in-person Symposium every two years. This is the first in-person Symposium since the Housing Forum’s inception in 2023.
