Housing minister says N.L. government doing its best to keep up with demand

Sheltered, a CBC Investigates series, examines the housing crisis in Newfoundland and Labrador telling the stories of the people living it, while scrutinizing the policies and politics behind it.

The Newfoundland and Labrador minister responsible for housing acknowledged Friday that the provincial government must act fast to address the shortage of housing.

Paul Pike, speaking at a news conference to announce municipal, provincial and federal governing funding for housing for clients of non-profit organizations Stella's Circle and Choices for Youth, said time is of the essence.

"We gotta move as fast as we can, make decisions as fast as we can, so we can meet the housing needs of all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians,"Paul Pike told reporters at St. John's city hall.

• Hotels instead of homes: N.L. spending millions on emergency shelter

Though the funding was announced Friday, most of the new units are already occupied, including a 14-unit complex for at-risk young women and mothers,and six units for women who avail of Stella's Circleservices.

A former office building is under development to become 15 transitional homes for women who are experiencing homelessness orfleeing domestic abuse, or who have been involved in the criminal justice system.

"I know we will have a long waiting list when the time comes to fill them," said Stella's Circle CEO Laura Winters.

WATCH | Minister Paul Pike says his government is doing a'stellar job' trying to create housing units:

What the minister in charge of housing says about efforts to tackle a housing crisis

12 months ago

Duration 4:49

Minister Paul Pike took questions from reporters at a housing announcement at St. Johns city hall about what the provincial government is doing to address a severe lack of affordable housing.

Asked about the plan to address the number of people being housed in hotels and for-profit shelters, Pike said the government is dedicated to keeping people safe.

"Weare working on providing extra spaces all the time, really," Pike said.

Pike pointed to Safe Haven, a non-profit organization that recently opened a shelter and warming centre inSt. John's. It is not operated by the housing corporation but is receiving funds to do so.

Vacant housing units

The housing corporation "spends a large amount of money each year" to renovate housing units, said Pike, butthe current stock is not meeting the needs of modern families, which typically require fewer bedrooms than in decades before when the units were built.

Data obtained through an access-to-information request reveals that of 5,597 housing corporation-owned properties, 153 were vacant and unhabitable. The number was tabulated atone point in the 2022-23 fiscal year.

"There are units that have closed over the years where we've you know that because at one point therewasn't a big uptake on our housing but now it is, and so we're doing our best to catch up and we're getting there."

Pike didn't have the current figurefor the wait-list for housing but said progress is being made. He pointed to new units opened in Happy Valley-Goose Bay thatreduced the wait-list to fewer than40 people.

"We're constantly shifting, we're constantly pivoting. But I think all in all, we're doing a stellar job in trying to create housing units for people in this province."

Sheldon Pollett, executive director of Choices for Youth, said the response to the housing crisis mustmatch the need. The collaboration among all levels of government is a good way forward, he said.

Provincial New Democrat Leader Jim Dinn,who attended Friday's announcement, said he was underwhelmed.

"This doesn't go far enough. It's a start and it shows me you can actually do something, so what's stopping you from doing more?"

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