Nisga'a Urban Housing Renovation Grant Program

Nisga'a Urban Housing Renovation Grant

1. Purpose

1.1 The Nisga'a Urban Home Renovation Grant Program (the "Program") is intended to provide grant funding ("Grants") for eligible home renovations to residential real property ("Property") for Nisga'a citizens living in Canada who do not reside on Nisga'a Lands. 

2. Eligibility Criteria

2.1 To be eligible for a Grant a Nisga'a citizen must 

(a) be at least 19 years of age,
(b) reside in Canada but not on Nisga'a Lands,
(c) be registered on title as the owner of, or be named in a registered mortgage as a mortgagor of, the Property in respect of which the Nisga'a citizen applies for a Grant,
(d) use the Property as their primary residence,
(e) not use the Property as a rental property, and
(f) not have previously received grant funding under the Nisga'a Urban Homeowner's Grant Program. 


3. Limits and Restrictions of Grant

3.1 Grants are subject to the following limits and restrictions:

(a) the maximum Grant available is $10,000 per Property;
(b) the number of Grants available in any year will be contingent upon the Program budget appropriation by Wilp Si'ayuukhl Nisga'a for that year;
(c) a Nisga'a citizen awarded a Grant under the Program will not be eligible for any further Grant under the Program for a period of five years after the date on which that Grant is received by that Nisga'a citizen;
(d) regardless of a Nisga'a citizen's eligibility to receive a Grant, a Property in respect of which a Grant is awarded under the Program may not be the subject of a further Grant under the Program for a period of five years after the date on which that Grant is received by a Nisga'a citizen.


3.2 The following is a list of home renovations which may be approved for a Grant under the Program:

(a) furnace replacement;
(b) roof replacement or repair (including eave troughs and downspouts);
(c) handicap / wheelchair access upgrade;
(d) insulation upgrade;
(e) window and exterior door replacement / upgrade;
(f) plumbing upgrade;
(g) electrical upgrade;
(h) ventilation upgrade (indoor air quality);
(i) porch, stairway and walkway repair;
(j) bathroom upgrade;
(k) general repairs.

 

3.3 A Nisga'a citizen receiving a Grant under the Program will be solely responsible for the completion of the eligible home renovations for which the Grant is provided ("Funded Renovations") and must commence the Funded Renovations within six months after receiving the Grant.

3.4 Neither the Nisga'a Nation nor any of its employees, agents or contractors nor any department or agency of Nisga'a Lisims Government will

(a) be a party to or assume any responsibility or liability in relation to any contract or agreement in connection with Funded Renovations which a Nisga'a citizen who receives a Grant may enter into with a vendor, contractor, inspector or other person, or
(b) assume any responsibility or liability for the actions or omissions of or materials or works provided by any vendor, contractor, inspector or other person which a Nisga'a citizen who receives a Grant may retain in connection with Funded Renovations.

4. Terms of Grant 

4.1 Before receiving a Grant, a successful applicant must sign and submit to the Capital Projects Coordinator of Nisga'a Lisims Government a Nisga'a Urban Home Renovation Grant Program Declaration and Agreement.

4.2 On each anniversary of the date on which a Nisga'a citizen receives a Grant under the Program, $2,000 of the Grant (or such lesser portion of the Grant as remains unforgiven on that date) will be forgiven to the Nisga'a citizen by the Nisga'a Nation, until the entirety of the Grant is forgiven, provided that the Nisga'a citizen

(a) has commenced the Funded Renovations within six months of receiving the Grant, and
(b) has not
(i) used any part of the Grant for a purpose other than the completion of the eligible home renovations for which the Grant was provided,
(ii) sold the Property in respect of which the Grant was awarded, or
(iii) ceased to reside at the Property in respect of which the Grant was awarded
prior to that anniversary.



4.3 A Nisga'a citizen who receives a Grant under the Program and who does not commence the Funded Renovations within six months of receiving the Grant must repay to the Nisga'a Nation the Grant in its entirety.

4.4 A Nisga'a citizen who receives a Grant under the Program and who

(a) uses any part of the Grant for a purpose other than the completion of the eligible home renovations for which the Grant was provided,
(b) sells the Property in respect of which the Grant was awarded, or
(c) ceases to reside in the Property in respect of which the Grant was awarded
before the entirety of the Grant is forgiven under section 4.2, must repay to the Nisga'a Nation the portion of the Grant which remained unforgiven at the time of that use, sale or cessation of residence.

5. Application Process

5.1 Each applicant for a Grant under the Program must submit a completed Application Form to:

Nisga'a Lisims Government
c/o Capital Projects Coordinator
P.O. Box 231, 2000 Lisims Drive
Gitlaxt'aamiks BC (formerly New Aiyansh)
Canada, V0J 1A0
Fax: 250 633 2367

5.2 Each application for a Grant under the Program will be reviewed by the Capital Projects Coordinator, who will make a recommendation in respect of the application to the Director of Finance of Nisga'a Lisims Government.

6. Criteria and Evaluation

6.1 The following information will be considered in evaluating an application for a Grant under the Program:

(a) the applicant's current household income;
(b) the applicant's current living conditions;
(c) the overall benefit of the proposed renovation project to the safety and comfort of the applicant;
(d) the overall long-term impact of the proposed renovation project to the Property in respect of which the application is submitted;
(e) the number of permanent occupants of the Property in respect of which the application is submitted;
(f) the overall value and cost-effectiveness of the proposed project.

6.2 Nisga'a citizens are encouraged to seek other sources of financial assistance prior to applying for a Grant under the Program.

6.3 A Nisga'a citizen who applies for but does not receive a Grant under the Program during a fiscal year may re-apply for a Grant under the Program during the following fiscal year.

7. Pre-qualification and Inspection 

7.1 A Property which is the subject of an application for a Grant is subject to inspection by an inspector retained by Nisga'a Lisims Government, prior to the making of a decision in respect of the application under the Program. 

8. Communication of Decision

8.1 A Nisga'a citizen who applies for a Grant under the Program will be advised in writing whether or not they will receive a Grant.

 

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