First Minister Tyler Edmunds is raising concerns over a recent decision of the Torngat Regional Housing Association (TRHA) to dispose of its existing and planned homes by transferring full title to those who are currently or waiting to occupy them.
“We were totally caught off guard by this decision,” says the First Minister, “especially since the Nunatsiavut Government had an understanding that negotiations leading to the possible acquisition of TRHA’s assets were ongoing.”
TRHA was established in 1983 to deliver social housing on behalf of Labrador Inuit to the communities of Nain, Hopedale, Postville, Makkovik and Rigolet.
In March of 2019, the Nunatsiavut Assembly enacted legislation to govern all housing development and programs within the Labrador Inuit Settlement Area. The legislation also allows for the establishment of a Nunatsiavut Housing Commission, semi-independent of the Nunatsiavut Government, as the preferred institution for housing delivery.
A steering committee was established this past February in an effort to examine what potential impacts the proposed Nunatsiavut Housing Commission could have on the future of TRHA, notes the First Minister. At that time, discussions centered on extending TRHA’s interim eligibility to receive continued funding from the Nunatsiavut Government in order to ensure the effective delivery of social housing. Part of the committee’s mandate was to ensure informed decisions are made regarding TRHA’s assets in advance of the Nunatsiavut Housing Commission being established. In June, the Nunatsiavut Government extended TRHA’s eligibility to receive funds up to March 31, 2022.
“We are at a loss to understand the rationale behind TRHA’s recent decision,” says First Minister Edmunds. “We are deeply concerned about the potential negative implications this will have on the delivery of social housing in our communities.”
The First Minister is calling for an urgent meeting with the steering committee to discuss the matter.