Housing innovations recognized

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TORONTO - The Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte were among six winners in the 2002 Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's (CMHC) Housing Awards Program, Affordable Housing Innovations, which was created in 1988 to recognize individuals and organizations that make significant contributions to improving housing affordability in Canada.

Awards are announced every two years.

The winners were recognized in five categories: concept and design, planning and regulation, process and management, technology and production, and finance and tenure. Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte won the latter award.

The winners were feted in a celebration in Toronto Oct. 23.

Eighty-five per cent of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte's homes are privately owned, because of the 2,200-member band's revolving loan program that offers low interest rates for complete mortgage terms.

"We've gotten away from giving community members the subsidy that we receive from the federal government, and we put that money into a revolving loan program," said Chris Maracle, director of housing, parks and band property maintenance.

Over 30 years, the program has generated the capacity to offer about 12 new mortgages a year, for which about 50 people apply.

Anyone in the community can apply, but those who want to build new houses have to own the land.

To select people most in need, the band assesses applications through a point system. "The point system helps take subjectivity out of the mortgage-awarding process," said Maracle.

Through the revolving loan program, the community has also created a renovation loan program so members can borrow money to maintain their homes. "Also we've used the same program to build rental homes in the community," Maracle added.

He said, "The award really reflected the community's commitment to the program."