Northern Housing Strategy

Background

The Manitoba Housing and Renewal Corporation, in partnership with northern organizations, has developed a Northern Housing Strategy to address the needs associated with housing in the north. This strategy is comprehensive in scope and recognizes the relationship between housing, health, education and economic development, while emphasizing the need for a community driven approach

One of the objectives of Manitoba's community-driven approach is to facilitate local decision-making and forge strong partnerships with community organizations to ensure the concerns and housing needs of northern residents are addressed. Targeted northern community input began with the establishment of a Northern Leaders Committee and a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) that were formed with representation from the MHRC and five northern and Aboriginal organizations.

The participating organizations are:

• the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO);
• the Northern Association of Community Councils (NACC);
• the Manitoba Metis Federation (MMF);
• the Urban/Industrial communities of the North; and
• the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC).

The Northern Leaders and TAC planned a Northern Housing Forum which was held in Thompson, Manitoba in May 2001. This Forum was intended to provide communities, stakeholders and key players with opportunities to provide input and participate in the development of the Northern Housing Strategy.

The Northern Leaders directed TAC to develop a strategic approach which is intended to address northern housing issues raised at the Forum.

The "Best House for the Best Price"

In order to address the "Best House for the Best Price", TAC undertook an evaluation of innovative housing technologies. The need to investigate alternative home construction techniques in northern areas was warranted due to various long-standing issues and problems related to the conventional stick-built method of construction. Stick-built homes, regardless of a northern or southern location, have limitations in terms of the quality and air-tightness of their building envelope. Poor energy efficiency and moisture accumulation are typical problems that are often further exacerbated by the extreme northern climate.

Based on research, the Committee selected Panellized Housing Technology as a promising technique suitable to northern living conditions. The panels are load-bearing laminates of foam and wood sheathing materials used for building the exterior walls, roof, floor and even foundations in homes and commercial buildings. They are factory produced in predetermined sizes based on housing design.

The benefits of Panellized Housing Technology include improved air tightness, improved robustness of the house, mould resistance and improved energy efficiency over traditional construction methods. In addition, the panels are easier to handle and are faster and simpler to assemble on site.

The use of Panellized Housing Technology in the north will also facilitate a community-based approach to northern housing in the following ways:

1. Panellized Housing Technology can improve health in communities because:
   • The increased volume in homes being produced will reduce overcrowding which has adverse impacts on social and physical conditions;
   • The better indoor air conditions achieved, combined with improved air tightness, will improve mould resistance.
2. Panellized Housing Technology can improve training and employment opportunities because:
   • As semi-skilled labour is required to erect panellized homes there will be increased employment opportunities;
   • Skilled labour is still required to undertake interior and exterior finishing therefore there may be training opportunities available in those areas.
3. Panellized Housing Technology can improve economic development because:
   • Lower energy costs will increase disposable income of families;
   • As the number of houses produced may be greater than normally achieved with traditional construction methods there may be more employment opportunities.
   • An increased use of local suppliers and material will contribute to an improved economy.

In order to demonstrate the viability of this technology, a Northern Model House was built in Thompson and was officially opened on March 17, 2003.

The Model House was built with the support and input of the northern organizations and in partnership with Manitoba Hydro who ensured that the home featured Power Smart technologies and that it would be R-2000 compliant. The features and design elements incorporated into the home were those identified by northern organizations and northern residents.

Community Capacity Building

Those Federal and Provincial government departments and organizations with links to resolutions which were passed at the Forum have identified liaisons to work with the MHRC to address them.

Housing representatives have been meeting with the liaisons and have begun identifying the steps needed to address the issues and key considerations in the resolutions.

Conclusion

The Department will continue to work with northern organizations and residents to evaluate innovative technologies and solutions to improve housing conditions in the North.

The Northern Housing Strategy is linked to other government initiatives such as the Federal, Provincial/Territorial Affordable Housing Initiative and the Northern Development Strategy.