Northern Labrador's housing crisis forces family to live in camper during winter

A family of five is rushing to winterize their camper so they can live in it through the winter, after being unable to find a place to live in Nain, the most northerncommunity in Labrador.

PamelaWebb says after a desperate search for housing, the camperwas her family's only option.

Webb's family is the latest instance ofwhat the Nunatsiavut government is calling a housing crisis.

"It makes me feel stuck, like you don't really have much support or you don't have very many options," Webb told CBC's Labrador Morning.

Webb and her family were subletting an apartment in the community but had to move out, as the former tenants were moving back in.

We needed land developed yesterday, we needed homes built yesterday.- Tyler Edmunds

Webb works for the Nunatsiavutgovernment and could apply for housing through Nunatsiavut as an employee, butthere is no rental space available there, either.

She said her income is too high to apply for housing under the Torngat Regional Housing Association, but she does not have enough money to start building a house on a piece of land she acquired this year.

"At least we got this little camper," she said, referring to the eight-foot-wide, 35-foot-long trailer RV her family calls home.

Her main concern is how her three young children will cope withthe harsh Labradortemperatures all winter.

The camper does have water and sewer hook-ups, but Webb said they're still waiting for temporary service from Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro, as well asan internet connection.

"We have to wait for this and wait for that, so hopefully we will have it all said and done before it gets too cold," Webb said. "That's the thing with the camper:it is not made for winters in the North."

Webb said they do have a water heater, which allows themto shower, but they'll have to find someplace else to do theirlaundry and cooking.

"We wouldn't even be where we are without family helping us out, and a lot of people don't have that."

As for privacy, Webb said she's kissing that goodbye.

She hopes to start building a property next year, but due to the cost of supplies is unsure if they will be able to finish.

Webbis not considering leaving Nain, as she has family in the area and thought it would be safer for her children as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

Housing issues known to government

NunatsiavutFirst Minister Tyler Edmunds said he is familiar with the situation that Webb and her family are in, and he hopes Nunatsiavutcan make some improvements.

Edmunds said there are a number of issues that are limiting the availability ofthe transient housing market, includinga lack of developing and allocating land, as well asthe price of supplies to build a home.

"Transient housing has been something that really hasn't been developed in recent years and that is leading to a lot of issues," said Edmunds. "We have articulated the housing crisis at a number of tables.

"A very big issue for us is moving forward on land developments."

To combat some of the housing issues, Edmunds saidtheir sights are set on creating a housing commission that would havea mandate to increase both social and private housing.

However, relief from the commission won't come in time to help Webb and her family. Edmunds said he expects the commission to be fully operational by 2022.

"We are in this place now where we feel like we are getting ready, and we are ready to start this process," he said.

Edmunds said the home repair program, which started as a provincial program, has really developed; last construction season,35 homes were repaired under that program, he said, and this season there were 23 homes slated for repairs.

Nunatsiavut's hands have previouslybeen tied when it comes to running housing programs, Edmunds said, as they have been allocating about $2.7 millionto the Torngat Regional Housing Associationto build homes and put people in them.

With the new housing commission, Nunatsiavutwill stop giving funding to the non-profit next year.

As a response, the independent TRHAgave ownership of 300 homes to the tenants that were living in them, citing the decision as the fairest way to remove itself from managing social housing on Labrador's north coast.

At the time,Nunatsiavutsaid it was blindsided by the TRHA decision, and officials weren't sure why those public assets were tobe signed over to private beneficiaries. But the TRHA said it had given ample opportunity for the government to weigh in.

Edmunds said Nunatsiavutis in discussions with TRHA about what may transpire next year, but the plan of actionis unclear.

CBC News asked the chair of the TRHA, Margaret Fox, for updates on how the transfer will go. However, she said she is not interested in commenting.

• 300 homes were given away for free, and the Nunatsiavut government is wondering why

• After 20 months in tent, Nain man moves into new house

Edmunds said it isa long road to make sure all residents have a roof over their head, but Nunatsiavut willcontinue moving forward.

"It's been a long process for us," he said.

"We needed land developed yesterday, we needed homes built yesterday, we needed multiplexes built yesterday."

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