FNNBOA Report - First Nations Building Disposable Houses
Shannonville, ON - Some First Nations communities are unnecessarily forced to rebuild their homes every five years over the 50-year life cycle charges a new report released by the First Nations National Building Officers Association (FNNBOA). The exploratory report finds that housing is not built to last in communities where the Chief and Council do not require proper inspections and where there are no band bylaws or resolutions to ensure homes are built to building code standards and properly maintained.
In comparison, the report finds communities that have band bylaws and resolutions for homes to be built to code, and that have maintenance programs, only replace their homes some 1.7 times over the 50 years. These figures are comparable to some homes off-reserve.
“Chief and Council are the authority with jurisdiction and it is their responsibility to ensure that homes are built to code and properly maintained,” said Mr. Bud Jobin, President of FNNBOA. Mr. Jobin who works as an inspector and teaches courses on building codes, says that “while poverty and overcrowding are hard on the structure of homes, in many cases the homes are not built to building code standards.”
Mr. Jobin observes that one of the findings is that external walls or foundations are replaced or repaired every five years in some communities at substantial cost to the community. “If it had been done right the first time, it wouldn’t have been an expense down the road,” he says.
The report examines the 50 year life cycle of a home and all of the operation and maintenance costs. The report notes that the figures are based on the assumption that Chief and Council do repairs as required. The information is based on inspector’s experience for three types of First Nations communities. The exploratory study makes several recommendations including further research on life cycle of homes in First Nations communities.
For more information, please contact: Bud Jobin, President (780) 523-8357 bjobin@clearwave.ca
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