Housing Department
The Sipekne’katik Housing Department is responsible for providing affordable housing to our band members.
We undertake property management for all band-owned housing units, including construction, renovations and maintenance. We work closely with the housing committee to address current and future housing planning and development.
Sipekne’katik Housing Stats:
283 Band owned homes
107 private units/lots (not including privately owned stores)
Click one of the buttons below to learn more about the services provided by Sipekne’katik Health Centre
Housing Applications
Per Sipekne’katik Housing policy (June 1, 2014, revised March 8, 2016) applicants for housing must be eighteen years of age.
Complete the Housing Application in full. You can download the application by clicking here.
Submit the completed application in-person to the Band office, Housing department or by email.
Notes:
Per housing policy 12.3 (June 1, 2014, revised March 8, 2016): “Housing application members of Sipekne’katik Band are responsible for the updating of their housing application each year, prior to March 31, or as their circumstances change. A member of the Sipekne’katik Band may not be listed on more than one housing application.”
Per housing policy 12.4 (June 1, 2014, revised March 8, 2016): “Names and the order of names that appear on the housing list are solely for management purposes. Having one’s name appear on the housing list does not necessarily guarantee that an applicant will be selected or granted a housing unit. Other factors will be considered as well, including but not limited to the number of housing units that will be built or will become available in any given year. Applicants will be prioritized based on the type of housing needed and the number of points they accrue using the following system.
Work Orders
We are excited to announce an upcoming change to our process for accepting housing work order requests, which will make the process more efficient and accessible for everyone. We've updated our procedures to offer several convenient options for submitting your requests. Please review the information below to understand the new process.
Return a completed Work Order form to the Front Desk at Sipekne’katik Administrative Building or the Sipekne’katik Band Office. Paper copies are available for pick up at either building, or you can print a copy by clicking here.
Email a scanned copy or .jpg of the completed Work Order Form to housingdept@sipeknekatik.ca
Complete a JotForm Work Order, which, once submitted, goes directly to the Housing Department. The JotForm Work Order can be found by clicking here.
A housing coordinator or assistant can take your Work Order Request over the phone and complete the form on your behalf. To do so, please call the Housing Department at 902-2236-3025.
Housing Planning & Development
Housing Band Members requires substantial capacity and resourcing from staff and various departments.
Our Housing department is working hard to manage new builds, renovations and emergency situations. We appreciate your understanding and patience.
Housing Updates as of 2023
Under the Section 95 Program with CMHC we currently have five new homes to be built.
Under ISC, the Housing department will be building a two-bedroom duplex
Our carpenter team is working on the Rapid Housing Initiative through CMHC, which consists of ten one-bedroom units and ten two-bedroom units
We are approved under CMHC for three isolation units that will be placed
We have one unit under the Emergency Repair Program that is to be completed.
Two to three RRAP programs are to be completed
We are hoping to have a Mi’kmaw Home Energy Efficiency Project again for 2023-24
Under the ISC “immediate needs program,” we have three units to be repaired
One unit under the ISC “major renovation” is to be repaired
Two burnt units that need to be rebuilt
Inspection & Reporting
The 2017 Housing Inspection & Needs Assessment project categorized participating houses into colours to indicate their priority for repairs.
Two factors were considered in assigning colours: the value of the repairs and the health and safety of the occupants. In terms of health and safety, concerns included the presence of pervasive mould, signs of vermin, excessive pet waste and or significant amounts of stored garbage or personal belongings. Below is the rating scale:
Red- 1st priority
Orange- 2nd priority
Yellow- 3rd priority
Green- 4th priority
Periodic Inspections & Entry Into the Unit
Housing policy 14.2 (June 1, 2014, revised March 8, 2016):
At this time, we do not have an Inspection Request form for occupants to fill out. Inspections should be at least once every 2 (two) years. If the resident is not available to accompany Housing Department personnel during the inspection, another person will accompany the Housing Department personnel as a witness. The resident may name an alternative and if the resident does not, the Housing Department may appoint someone to observe the inspection.
For the duration of the occupancy, the resident has exclusive use of the housing unit. The Housing Department may enter the housing unit only for reasonable purposes if:
The resident gives permission for entry or entry is necessary to protect life or property.
Entry is between the hours of 8:30am and 4:30pm, Monday to Friday unless otherwise agreed to between the Housing Department and the resident.
There is an emergency.
The resident has abandoned the housing unit or appears to have abandoned the housing unit.
The Housing Department has a court order stipulating that it may enter the housing unit.
The unit is to be inspected.
Under normal circumstances, the inspection will be done with the resident present (unless circumstances do not allow that, such as when there is an emergency inspection
Any unit that is vacant for an extended period of time will be inspected at least two (2) times per month.
The Housing Department will contact the resident with at least twenty-four (24) hours notice prior to entering the housing unit for an inspection, unless an emergency inspection is required.
Contact Us
Call the housing department if you require assistance.
For housing emergencies outside of business hours, please call 902-751-0407.
For weather-related emergencies, in most cases, response will take place after the weather event has ended.
Any storm-related damages must be documented and reported to the Emergency Measures Officer. Please send photos and descriptions of damage to: emo@sipeknekatik.ca.
Please CC the following emails: michelleglasgow@sipeknekatik.ca. rhondaknockwood@sipeknekatik.ca.