
News Release
City of Iqaluit to receive $5 million from the Government of Canada’s Rapid Housing Initiative to build new affordable housing units
August 4, 2021 – Iqaluit, Nunavut
The City of Iqaluit will receive $5 million in funding from the Government of Canada through the Cities Stream of the Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI) from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). This new funding will create up to nine new affordable housing units in Iqaluit.
Yesterday, Deputy Mayor Janet Brewster was joined for the announcement by the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), the Honourable Elisapee Sheutiapik, Government House Leader, Minister of Family Services, Minister responsible for Status of Women, Minister responsible for Homelessness, Minister responsible for Immigration and Minister responsible for Poverty Reduction.
The City has begun to engage community partners and will work together to complete project submission by August 31, 2021 for review and approval by CMHC. If approved, the project is expected to begin December 31, 2021.
Under the RHI’s funding requirements, the project needs to achieve occupancy within an 18-month timeframe from the project start date.
“The CMHC RHI allocation of $5M will do more than just contribute to up to nine new units for Iqaluit,” said Mayor Bell. “This housing program will break down intergovernmental barriers and demonstrate that this partnership project can serve as a model to solve the housing crisis in Nunavut. Only by working together and implementing local solutions will we be able to solve our housing crisis.”
“The basic right to housing is essential to the health, safety and wellbeing of Iqalungmiut,” said Deputy Mayor Brewster. “These efforts are a positive step towards long-term sustainable solutions and in line with the on-going work of the City’s task force on affordable housing.”
Mayor Bell started the Mayor’s Task Force on Affordable Housing on June 1, 2020 to identify and facilitate actions that will increase the range of housing options, supply and affordability in the City of Iqaluit. The City and the Mayor’s Task Force on Affordable Housing looks forward to continuing work with our partners in identifying and facilitating actions that will increase the range of housing options, supply and affordability to live in the City of Iqaluit.
Iqaluit City Council and staff thank the Government of Canada for this recognition of Iqaluit’s lack of options to support people experiencing and at risk of homelessness, overcrowding and housing insecurity escalated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The support through the RHI funding will increase the supply of affordable housing one family at a time and offer new options on increasing that number in the future.
Media contact:
Lisa Milosavljevic
Communications and Customer Service Manager
L.Milosavljevic@iqaluit.ca | 867-979-5607