In January of 2024, the federal government announced plans to invest nearly $19 million for new homes in Indigenous communities around the NWT.
A little over a year later, many of those sorely-needed homes have been installed and occupied.
Nahanni Butte, a community of less than 100 people, was promised seven houses through the federal investment, which was part of the third phase of the Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI). Six of those homes are already occupied, and the last, which was damaged during installation, should be be complete soon.
"Out of the seven approved, all seven units were brought in community around February [of 2024]," said Nahanni Butte Dene Band manager Soham Srimani. "During installation, one of the units got damaged, but the other six were completed and delivered on time.
"Subsequently, six [band] members have moved in with their families in these brand-new units, and we are waiting on the insurance for getting the damaged unit replaced by [the closure of] this winter road."
Nahanni Butte was one of eight communities set to receive homes as part of Ottawa's investment last year. Five more homes were promised to Acho Dene Koe First Nation in Fort Liard, while six were set to ship to Pehdzeh Ki First Nation in Wrigley, and 10 more were slated to head to Lutsel K'e Dene First Nation. Twenty-six more were expected to be spread among the four Tlicho communities of Wekweeti, Gameti, Whati and Behchoko.
Acho Dene Koe First Nation and Pehdzeh Ki First Nation could not be reached for updates on the status of the homes they were promised. Tlicho communications manager Kelley Ryder did not respond to multiple requests for more information on the homes bound for communities in that region. However, Lutsel K'e Dene First Nation Chief James Marlowe confirmed that all 10 homes his community was promised have arrived. Those houses are not yet occupied due to weather-related construction challenges, but residents should be able to move in by this summer.
"We do have the 10 units in the community," Marlowe said. "It was a late start in developing a path for the location of the 10 houses. We started in September, and then it got cold. We had issues with equipment SA国际影视传媒� equipment breakdown SA国际影视传媒� and gravel and all that stuff. So there is a delay.
"We got [the process] extended to June 31, I believe. Then we should have 10 units established and set up, then people can move in."
Despite the delay, Marlowe is grateful that there will soon be multiple new residences in his community, where there is "always a requirement for more houses because everybody is always growing and having families."
"I'd like to say thank you to the federal government of Canada for giving us funds to build some units or houses in the community," the chief said.
