Two new townhouse- style six-plex housing units, costing almost $1.6 million, will help alleviate a chronic housing shortage here, says Chief R. Donald Maracle.
And more aid may be on the way -- Maracle said he hopes the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte can get a slice of the $6 billion-plus infrastructure/social housing stimulus package mentioned Friday by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The reserve also has a problem with polluted drinking water and Mohawks here say they'll continue to press for federal funds to address the problem.
"Water and housing is a priority for people (here)," Maracle said, just before joining others in putting shovels into the ground to kick off the new six-plex to be constructed near the intersection of Huron Brant Drive North and Huron Brant Drive. Another will be built on the north portion of the subdivision.
The housing is badly needed, with a waiting list of 70 for affordable housing, as well as many former residents who want to come back to the reserve, Maracle said, adding there has been a "chronic shortage" of housing for years.
It was about 15 years ago that the band council bought land packages, planning for future housing expansion, he said.
"We thought it was important at the time for the band to have a land bank," Maracle said as snow swirled around the location of the new townhouses.
The project, at a cost of $1.575 million, is a joint effort of the band, using its share of Casino Rama money, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and Indian and Northern Affairs, he said.
Three of the 12 units will be rent-geared-to-income, Maracle said.
They will be ready for occupancy in the spring, he said.
The band has 130 social housing units currently.