The community housing plan annual report outlines the key activities incurred by the housing department for the reporting period ending July 16th 2008.

The housing department commenced operations within the Planning and Technical Services Unit and has been relocated to the band office.

The goal 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 the protection of the community's capital housing investment.

Currently, the housing department is in a transitional phase and the objective is to operate as a separate department that will be managed and administered by senior administration. The housing department consists of a housing manager, clerk, and a superintendent for the Lakeview apartments. The maintenance of the housing units is a joint responsibility between housing and community infrastructure department of Planning & Tech Services.

A housing policy manual was reviewed and developed in 1999 which details how the housing program is to be managed and administered. The housing policy has been reviewed by the housing committee (April 2007) and this interim housing policy requires the standing committee's recommendation prior to band council's approval. The housing policy was approved by band council on September 13th 2007.

The following list summarizes the key activities undertaken by the housing department:

• operation and maintenance of community housing units (104)
• 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 sources of revenues; a CMHC housing subsidy and rental revenues from housing tenants.

A housing committee has been approved by band council and its primary responsibility is to provide direction 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 consisted of the following; Housing Committee's that Work; Developing a Property Management Plan; Arrears Management Workshop; 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; and the Ontario FN Technical Services.

It is estimated that more than 9 million dollars has been invested in new community housing. Since 1998 the band administration has completed eight (8) Housing Phases consisting of the construction of 99 housing units through capital financing from RBC, INAC, and CMHC. The housing stock consists various individual houses, apartments, triplex, duplexes, and five plexs in the community. There are several housing units (4) that also considered band owned and thus managed within the housing department.

Accrued rental arrears continues to be a key issue plaguing 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.

Additional capital funding for self help housing has been secured from Indian & Northern Affairs which is targeted for individual homeownership. The housing office has been able to secure subsidy funding ($160,000) for four (4) housing units and the onus is on the housing recipients to secure commercial financing for the balance of their home construction.

The band council has also approved a special funding ($80,000) for housing which will address "emergency renovations" for band members with disabilities, handicap, seniors, elders, or persons on limited fixed income. Program was administered by housing and well received by the community program recipients.

An annual approval of RRAP housing funding ($40,000) also provided an opportunity for private homeowners to upgrade and renovate their homes. A total of two homeowners benefited from this program. Currently, the housing department continues to administer the annual allocation of one RRAP unit. RRAP is managed and inspected by NSTC - Tech Services.

Thereafter, 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.

Housing Demographics

As of November 2007, the total Sagamok Anishnawbek's registered membership population is 2361 consisting of 972 off reserve and 1375 on reservation.

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 housing units are band member owned.

The housing department operates from the CMHC subsidy budget and an allocation from INAC's Minor Capital (core funding) for management purposes.

There are 309 residential buildings (342 units) and 30 Other facilities in the community of Sagamok.

Organizational and Reporting Systems

The housing department is a component within the Planning and Technical Services. And the Tech Services Unit is one of the four Administrative Units within the organization of Sagamok Anishnawbek.

Included in the housing annual report is the Description of Services under the Planning and Technical Services Unit. The attachment is included for the purpose of describing the reporting relationships between the housing department, tech services, and senior administration.

Special attention should be given the housing section and its relationship to infrastructure and capital planning.

Key Areas of Responsibility

The administration of the housing department is divided into six housing sections which are noted:

1. Housing Department administers and manages the housing programs;
2. Home Improvement Loan (HIL), available for renovations in respect of 216 Residential units which are owned and insured by our band members. Program was suspended on October 2006.
3. RBC - community housing, the housing department manages and administers the 14 residential under a separate operating agreement.
4. CMHC - community housing initiative, the housing department manages and administers the 101 residential units under a separate agreement.
5. INAC - Self Help Housing, assists with band members to secure financing through the Lot Servicing and Construction programs. 11 residential units.
6. Band Council - Emergency Renovation funding, specifically designed for emergency housing repairs for seniors, elders, and disabled persons.
7. 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 dwellings which are not noted in the RBC and CMHC housing profiles and has been developed and managed by the housing department.

The buildings are noted as follows:

1. Lakeview Apartments consisting of 2 buildings with 10 - 2 bedroom and 1 - one bedroom Apartments
   
   

CMHC Management Portfolio

There are 8 phases with a total of 101 CMHC units and each phase has a different amount of units and respective as follows:

• Phase 1: 9 units - 3 bedroom single detached units (geared to income);
• Phase 2: 5 units - 3 bedroom single detached units (geared to income);
• Phase 3: 7 units - 3 bedroom single detached units (fixed rent);
• Phase 4: 24 units - 3 bedroom single detached units (fixed rent);
• Phase 5: 23 units - 3 bedroom single detached units (fixed rent);
  • 4 units - 2 bedroom duplex units (fixed rent)
  • 3 units - 1 - 2 bedroom and 2 - 1 bedroom tri-plex units (fixed rent), and
  • 4 units - 2 bedroom four-plex units (fixed rent)
• Phase 6: Elders complex:
  • 4 units - 4 - one bedroom independent units and
  • 10 units - 10 - one bedroom (Domicile).
• Phase 7: 9 units - 1 X 1 Bedroom Detached
  • - 5 X 1 Bedroom Row Apartment
  • - 2 X 2 Bedroom Semi Detached
  • - 1 X 3 Bedroom Detached
• Phase 8: 10 Units - 5 X 3 Bedroom Detached
  • - 2 X 2 Bedroom Semi Detached
  • - 3 X 1 Bedroom Row Apartment
• Phase 9: 16 Units - 2 X 3 Bedroom Bungalows
  • - 6 X 2 Bedroom DuPlexes
  • - 3 X 2 Bedroom TriPlex
  • - 5 X 1 Bedroom Five Plex
    
    
  • Note: completion date is March 2008.
• Total CMHC Units - 117 Units
  
  

Housing Activities

Refer to attached Description of Services

All of the Band, RBC, and CMHC units are to be inspected, managed and adminiistered for the term of the applicable mortgage ie 25 years.

Oil fired units and HRV's:
Preventive maintenance is completed by Community Infrastructure Staff and a technician is procured to service the furnaces and also the Heat Recovery Ventilation systems (HRV), this allows these units to run as efficient as possible.

Septic Pump outs:
The septic tanks are scheduled to be pumped out every two years. Or the need is dependant on the type of residential building ie bunglow, triplex, five plex, etc.

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,

Housing Committee:
This is the authority that has the responsibility of managing the RBC/CMHC residential units and band owned housing units 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 December 2006.

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).

These 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.

Emergency 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 March of 2007 with a budget of $80,000.00.

HOUSING PLAN FOR THE NEXT FIVE (5) YEARS

Renovation requirements (addressing units that are not affiliated with CMHC's financed rentals)

The units identified below are the one on file at this time, and the concentration of renovation is deemed to be conducted in the interior such as:

The estimated renovation cost on file is $431,448 ($591,448 less $160,000) to date, which is not in consideration of those that are not applying.

Note: The housing has compiled and recorded the housing renovation requests to date (July 14/08) and it has preliminary estimates of $799,851.00.