Looking at solutions to Nunavut’s housing crisis

Nunavut faces a housing crisis unparalleled in this country. The housing supply is inadequate for the population, and many experience overcrowding and chronic housing insecurity. The housing issues exacerbate other social concerns including poverty, food insecurity, addictions, and family violence. Nunavut’s housing reality:

• Over half of the population lives in social housing
• The waiting lists for access to social housing are long.
• There is a severely limited supply of units in the rental or homeownership market.
• Many homes are leased by governments, businesses, and other large employers, and subleased to their employees as staff housing.
• With many people’s housing tied to their jobs, this creates barriers to people changing jobs
• Non-profits and small businesses that do not have staff housing are struggling to find and retain staff.

This project will assess the situation by:

• Analyzing Nunavut’s housing market, with a focus on Iqaluit.
• Conducting public consultations on how tenants are impacted by the current system.
• Exploring alternative systems, and whether they are adaptable to Nunavut.
• Performing a cost-benefit analysis of the staff housing system compared to alternatives, including cost to government and other institutions, vacancy rates, overhousing, labour force mobility, and tenant involvement in decision-making.