Release of Nunavut Household Needs Survey

News Release

Iqaluit, Nunavut (Oct 29, 2010) — The Honourable Tagak Curley, Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation (NHC), today announced the results of the Nunavut Housing Needs Survey.

“The findings of the survey reveal that Nunavut is indeed facing an acute housing crisis,” said Minister Curley. “The survey provides solid data that will help us to work towards providing a safe and secure home for everyone.”Examples of the results include:
– 35 % of Nunavut homes are overcrowded;
– 23% of Nunavut homes are in need of major repairs;
– Approximately 4% of the population or 1,220 individuals are “homeless”.

Commissioned by the Nunavut Housing Corporation and produced in partnership with Statistics Canada and the Nunavut Bureau of Statistics, this survey was conducted in every community in Nunavut and covered every type of housing. Household interviews began in November of 2009 and finished in June 2010.

Recognizing the importance of local knowledge, the Nunavut Statistics Bureau was in charge of hiring and training bilingual Nunavummiut to conduct household interviews, allowing most people to be interviewed in the language of their choice. The survey questionnaire, produced in Nunavut’s official languages was designed in cooperation with Statistics Canada and the Nunavut Bureau of Statistics.

“This survey is a critical planning tool,” said Alain Barriault, President of the Nunavut Housing Corporation. “It will help us make convincing arguments for additional housing resources, and assist in addressing the major issues of overcrowding, hidden homelessness, housing conditions, and the insufficiency of housing supply that continue to hinder Nunavut’s development.”

The Nunavut Housing Needs Survey is now available for download on the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s website at www.nunavuthousing.ca

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For more information on housing policies and programs, contact:
Alain Barriault, President
Nunavut Housing Corporation
867.975.7200 – abarriault@gov.nu.ca

For information regarding methodology
contact:
Stephanie Langlois
Survey Manager, Nunavut Bureau of Statistics
Executive and Intergovernmental Affairs
867.473.2653 – slanglois@gov.nu.ca