The units contain one bedroom and standard amenities. (Submitted photo/Raymond Dauvin)

By Derek Cornet

housing project

Twenty tiny homes to benefit low income and homeless residents in La Loche

Oct 19, 2021 | 1:23 PM

An affordable housing project in La Loche will specifically target low-income residents and the homeless.

Twenty tiny homes are set to be completed this December with occupants allowed to move in by the end of February. While the criteria of who will be qualified for a unit is yet to be determined, La Loche Mayor Georgina Jolibois explained single residents and those who are homeless will be the top priorities.

“Every housing initiative the community has done have allowed local people to have a unit,” she said. “Here in La Loche, housing is an issue, a shortage of housing is still an issue, so any new initiative that we can bring in and give to local residents, it helps tremendously. Twenty people will have an opportunity for a new home and that’s pretty exciting.”

The units will include a kitchen, living room, one bedroom, a bathroom and laundry amenities. Jolibois noted the project was made possible through a partnership between La Loche, the federal and provincial government, as well as the Métis Northern Region Two. The total cost of the project wasn’t available by publishing.

Jolibois mentioned Methy Construction, which is an arms-length organization created by the village about 30 years ago, is building the units. The goal of Methy Construction is to increase housing capacity in La Loche, as well as employ local people.

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“We appreciate being able to work with the Métis area region, as well as the provincial and the federal funders and we appreciate all of the support we get,” she said.

Single residents will be targeted as the units are too small for families. (Submitted photo/Raymond Dauvin)

Funding by the Métis region allowed for the construction of an additional six units. (Submitted photo/Raymond Dauvin)

Jolibois mentioned housing is an issue throughout Northern Saskatchewan and this is La Loche’s way of addressing the problem. She added there are several categories of the homeless who will benefit such as residents with addictions, medical issues and young people.

“There’s another category that has been emerging over the years and it’s the 16 and older young people who are literally homeless, who are couch surfing, who are going from home to home, even some single moms,” Jolibois said. “Homelessness, in my opinion, the definition expands beyond what we see. There are 16 and older people who are really struggling, so we acknowledge that and we are doing what we can to tackle the shortage of homes in the community.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno