Social housing construction and improvements in housing outcomes for Inuit in Northern Canada

Abstract

One-third of Inuit households in the Canadian Arctic are in core housing need-three times the national average. In 2014–2015, over 400 social housing units were constructed in Nunavik and Nunavut, two of the four Inuit land claims regions in Canada. This article examines whether rehousing, following this large-scale construction commitment, is associated with significant improvements in housing outcomes. People on the waiting list for social housing were recruited in 12 communities in Nunavik and Nunavut. Of the 186 adults who were rehoused, 102 completed the study. Questionnaires were administered 1–6 months before and 15–18 months after rehousing. After rehousing, household crowding, major repairs needed, and thermal discomfort were significantly reduced. The sense of home, including factors such as perceived control, privacy, and identity, improved significantly post-move. Social housing construction significantly improves living conditions in Nunavik and Nunavut. Integration of housing and social policies are needed to maximize benefits of new housing construction and to avoid or mitigate unintended effects.

Keywords:

• Housing
• interventions
• indigenous populations
• Inuit
• Canada

Acknowledgments

This study was conducted in collaboration with the following organizations who reviewed the article prior to submission: Kativik Municipal Housing Bureau, Kativik Regional Government, Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services, Société d’habitation du Québec, Nunavut Housing Corporation, Government of Nunavut Department of Health, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated. The project was approved and supported by mayors of the communities involved, the Nunavik Nutrition and Health Committee, and the Nunavut Research Institute. Results reported in this article have been approved for publication by the above mentioned partners, and by the Nunavik Nutrition and Health Committee. We acknowledge the collaboration of Inuit research assistants, local housing committees and managers, and mayors without whom this study would not have been possible. We thank participants who generously gave their time to participate in the project. We acknowledge the contribution of other co-researchers on this project, and the contribution of research assistants who collected data.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The project Housing, health and well-being in the Arctic received financial support from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (# GIR-134230) and from ArcticNet - a Network of Centres of Excellence of Canada. M. Riva holds a Canada Research Chair in Housing, Community, and Health (CIHR 950-231678). L. Potvin holds a Canada Research Chair in Community Approaches and Health Inequalities (CIHR 950-232541). K. Perreault is supported by a Doctoral Research Award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Notes on contributors

Mylene Riva

Mylene Riva, PhD in Public Health, is Canada Research Chair in Housing, Community, and Health and Assistant Professor at McGill University.

Karine Perreault

Karine Perreault, is PhD candidate in Public Health at University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada.

Philippe Dufresne

Philippe Dufresne, MSc in Epidemiology, is research assistant at McGill University.

Christopher Fletcher

Christopher Fletcher, PhD in Anthropology is Full Professor at Université Laval.

Gina Muckle

Gina Muckle, PhD in Psychology is Full Professor at Université Laval.

Louise Potvin

Louise Potvin, PhD is Canada Research Chair in Community Approaches and Health Inequalities, Scientific Director of the Public Health Research Center (Centre de Recherche en Santé Publique – CreSP) and Full Professor, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal.

Ross Bailie

Ross Bailie, MD PhD is Full Professor at the University of Sydney and Director of the University Centre for Rural Health and Head of School at the Northern Rivers Clinical School, University of Sydney.

Marie Baron

Marie Baron, PhD in Health Promotion is research professional at the CERSSPL-UL, CIUSSS de la Capitale Nationale.