Housing

Housing Application Form, Dec. 2011 

Community Housing Report, April 2012

The community housing plan annual report outlines the key activities completed by the housing department for the reporting period ending January 2012.

The housing office is located at the band administration building and it is supervised and administered under the senior administration staff.

The objective of the Housing Department is to plan, develop, and maintain the Sagamok housing infrastructure with the principles of providing quality and affordable housing; promoting pride;  home ownership responsibility, healthy homes and individual well-being;  and to safeguard and manage the community’s capital housing investment.

The objective is to operate as a separate department that will function autonomously within the organization. The housing department consists of a housing manager, clerk, trainee placement, and a janitor for the Lakeview apartments.  The maintenance of the housing units is a joint responsibility between housing and community infrastructure department of Lands, Resources, and Infrastructure Unit.

The housing policy details how the housing program will be managed and administered.  The current policy has been reviewed by the housing committee  in October 2011.  The initial policy was approved by band council on September 13^th 2007.  Since then, several housing policy changes have been submitted to the standing committee and band council to basically update the current housing policy requirements.

The following list summarizes the key activities of the housing department:

• ·        operation and maintenance of community housing rental units (135)
• ·        annual inspections of all housing units
• ·        rent and loan collections
• ·        emergency renovations
• ·        construction of new homes
• ·        coordination of housing services (RRAP, Inspections, H&W, etc)     
• ·        public relations, sharing and reporting of housing information

The housing department manages and operates its housing program from two major sources of revenues; a CMHC housing subsidy and rental revenues from housing tenants.  At times, funding subsidies are offered to the housing program.

A housing committee has been approved by band council and its primary responsibility is to provide guidance to the housing department in areas related to policies and procedures, and to address the community housing related issues. 

A Terms of Reference for the committee has been developed and approved which provides a detailed accountability framework on the committee’s function and responsibility.  Other training areas provided for the committee and staff consist of the following; Housing Committee’s that Work; Developing a Property Management Plan;  Arrears Management Workshop;  Quality Management and Assurance;  ISO Designation;  and the Health & Safety for Managers Seminar.

The housing department continues to utilize outside resources for the delivery of community housing services and it includes the following;  NSTC- Technical Services;  CMHC operational and management services; Ontario FN Technical Services;  Medical Services Branch (EHO);  and the NSTC – Occupational Therapists.

It is estimated that more than 14 million dollars has been invested in new community housing.  Since 1998 the band administration has completed thirteen (13) housing construction phases consisting of the construction of 135 housing rental units (89 bldgs) through capital financing from RBC, INAC, and CMHC.  The housing stock consists various individual bungalows, duplexes, tri plexes, four plexs, five plexs, and apartment complexes in the community.   There are several housing units (3) that are also considered band owned and thus managed by the housing department.

Previous rental arrears continues to be a key issue affecting the housing program.  A number of community presentations and displays have been offered to the community membership outlining the rental arrears to date.  Community surveys have been completed and results have been compiled in an attempt to determine the course of action for housing arrears.  The band council has approved the Declaration of Zero Tolerance for non-payment of rent.  Since that adoption, the rental arrears has been decreasing and will continue to decrease.

The band council has approved housing funding ($250,000) for privately owned homes which will address “emergency renovations” for band members with disabilities, handicap, seniors, elders, or persons and families on fixed or limited income.  A previous program was administered by housing and well received by the community and private home owners.

An annual allocation of CMHC - RRAP funding ($42,500) also provides an opportunity for private homeowners to upgrade and renovate their homes.  A total of two homeowners benefits from this program.  Currently, the housing department continues to administer the annual allocation of 2.5 RRAP units.  RRAP is managed and inspected by NSTC – Technical Services.  

Housing Demographics

As of January 2012, the total of Sagamok Anishnawbek’s registered band membership is 2637 consisting of 1529 residents living on-reserve.

Sagamok Anishnawbek owns and manages all the buildings in the capital housing program and carries debt financing on the RBC and CMHC residential units. And the remaining residential units are classified as band member owned. 

As of January 2012, there are 368 residential buildings of which 89 buildings are rentals units, 232 are privately owned, 23 are considered self help, and there are 24 various residences (log homes, trailers, renovated, etc).

There are 30 buildings consisting of commercial, industrial, and institutional.

There are also 44 cottages in undeveloped lakes and various shorelines. 

Organizational and Reporting Systems

The housing department is currently a component within the Lands, Resources, and Infrastructure unit.  And the LRI unit is one of the four administrative Units within the business organization of Sagamok Anishnawbek.

The community infrastructure department and the housing department have the joint responsibility of managing and maintaining the housing infrastructure.

Housing Committee

It is the committee that has the responsibility of overseeing community housing and band owned housing units that are currently owned, mortgaged and located in Sagamok Anishnawbek.  The committee consists of council representation, community members and housing staff as resource.  The current housing committee was officially approved by band council on October 2011.

Council Representative:     Ms. Elaine Jones

Members:

Orion Southwind                                          Marilyn Jones

Marilyn Southwind                                       Peter Owl Jr

Ernestine Bob                                              Colleen Eshkakogan

Pamela Sago/Toulouse

Housing Staff:

Felix Stoneypoint - Housing Manager

Donna Trudeau - Housing Clerk

Arlene Eshkakogan – Administrative Trainee

Housing Programs and Services

The housing office administers the housing programs and services. The administration of the housing program is divided into six sections which are noted:

1. Home Improvement Loan (HIL), available for renovations in respect of 236 residential units which are owned by the band members. This BMO program was suspended on October 2006. 

2. RBC – self help housing, the housing department monitors the 23 residential units under various mortgage agreements.  Some units have fulfilled their mortgage obligations.

3. Community housing initiatives - the housing department manages and administers the 135 residential rental units under a RBC, CMHC, and Band housing agreements.

4. Self Help Housing, assists with band members (1) to secure financing through the Lot Servicing and RBC programs.

5. Band Council – Emergency Renovation funding, specifically designed for emergency housing repairs for seniors, elders, and disabled persons.

6. CMHC – RRAP program guidelines.   The allocation is approved by CMHC and the program is monitored and inspected by the North Shore Tribal Council.  

Residential Buildings

This section of the housing program consists of apartment and home residences which are excluded in the RBC and CMHC housing profiles and they are managed by the housing department.

The total residences are 14 rental units and are noted as follows:          

Lakeview Apartments #1 – 6 Units

        Lakeview Apartments #2 – 6 units

        Band Owned – 3 units @  Bungalows

CMHC Management Portfolio

There are 13 phases (including phases 6 and 12) with a total of 120 CMHC rental units managed by housing and each phase consist of the following:

Phase 1:           9 units – bungalows (geared to income);

Phase 2:           5 units – bungalows (geared to income);

Phase 3:           7 units –  bungalows (fixed rent);

Phase 4:         24 units – bungalows (fixed rent);

Phase 5:         23 units –  various types (fixed rent)

Phase 6:         14 units  - Eagles Lodge (managed by CWD)                                      

Phase 7:         9 units – various housing types 

Phase 8:         10 Units –  various housing types

Phase 9:         16 Units –   various housing types

Phase 10:         8 Units  -    various housing types

Phase 11:         4 units – Four Plex construction.

Phase 12:         6 units – Foster Home (managed by CWD)

Phase 13:         5 units – Five Plex construction.

Total CMHC Units – 140 Units

Housing Activities and other Program Features 

All of the Band, RBC, and CMHC units are inspected, monitored and maintained for the term of the applicable mortgage ie 25 years.

Replacement Reserve

This is a separate account that is increased on an annual basis from the Operational Agreements with CMHC.  These funds are to be utilized for the purpose of doing major replacements, ie. structure components, appliances, which are part of this agreement,

Home Improvement Loan (HIL)

This program represents the Loans and the Special financial assistance available for Sagamok’s Band members who are requesting home improvements for their residential unit.  Sagamok Anishnawbek had secured loan from the Bank of Montreal and the Royal Bank for the band members to access the HIL.  Program was suspended on October 2006 until further review by the housing department.

Home Improvement CMHC-RRAP Guidelines

The federal government provides assistance by providing loans that are fully or partly forgivable to those that are less than $42,000 household income bracket.  The programs are available by CMHC are:

1. Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program or RRAP (0 - $16,000.00),
2. Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program – Disability or RRAP-D (0 - $16,000.00),
3. Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program for Conversion (0 - $16,000.00),
4. Home Adaptation for Senior Independence or HASI (0 - $3,500.00).

The above funds are limited and have specific requirements or qualifications to receive the benefits of above programs.  Additionally, the funding is further limited by the geographic area and by who will receive this assistance.  The qualifications have specifics such as age of house and the applicant’ income or if there is any one in the household will any disability.

Community  Renovations approved by Band Council

The band council had reviewed and approved funding on emergency renovations for seniors, elders, and individuals with disabilities.  The budget was approved in June  2012 with a budget of $250,000.00. 

Future Housing Development

The administration has been able to secure funding from the First Nation Market Housing Fund.  The fund will address the community housing needs and the program components consists of:

• ·        rental housing
• ·        self help housing
• ·        home renovations
• ·        health facility

HOUSING PLAN FOR THE NEXT FIVE (5) YEARS

1.         Home Renovation requirements (band member)

The units identified below are the units on file at this time:

The estimated renovation requests on file is estimated at $250,000 to date – January 2012.

The updated (January 2012) and revised renovation requests is estimated to be closer to $250,000.00.  This number is subject to change due to the band owned houses (232 units) being older and that those units will keep on deteriorating.

2.            Capital Housing Requirements

The following is a forecast on the number of new housing that may be required to address the Housing Waiting List for the period ending January 2012.

The housing waiting list consists of 27 applications as of January 2012.

The housing department will continue to review and develop management services required for the efficient delivery of community based housing services, past, present, and the future.