Ottawa, Traditional unceded Algonquin Territory, Ontario - National Indigenous Collaborative Housing Incorporated and Government of Canada
There is an urgent, unmet need for adequate and affordable housing for Indigenous People in urban, rural and northern areas and immediate action must be taken to address these housing gaps.
This is why today, Jeff Loucks, Chief Executive Officer, as well as Gary Wilson, Vice Chair, and Robert Byers, Secretary of the National Indigenous Collaborative Housing Incorporated (NICHI), and the Minister of Indigenous Services Patty Hajdu announced immediate funding in the amount of $287.1 million to address the critical need for safe and affordable urban, rural and northern Indigenous housing projectsthe Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion Ahmed Hussen and the Minister of Northern Affairs Dan Vandal, Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.
In recognition of the need for immediate action, the National Indigenous Collaborative Housing Incorporated (NICHI) will deliver this funding through a proposal process for infrastructure projects that address immediate and unmet housing needs of Indigenous Peoples in northern, urban and rural communities. The process will prioritize those projects with funding shortfalls which are already underway and those which are ready to begin.
NICHI brings together Indigenous-led housing, homelessness, and housing-related organizations to provide lasting solutions that address diverse housing inadequacies including homelessness for Indigenous Peoples living in urban, rural and northern areas. Taking a "For Indigenous By Indigenous" approach to research, advocacy, partnerships and supporting housing providers in the building of homes, NICHI is well positioned to deliver housing investments to help address the immediate needs of urban, rural and northern Indigenous communities.
Budget 2022 committed $4 billion to support housing including $2.4 billion for First Nations on reserves, and $1.6 billion for Inuit, Métis and First Nations Self-Governing and Modern Treaty communities. The funding so far has supported housing-related projects, including home improvements and repairs, and new homes.
Budget 2022 also provided $300 million to co-develop and launch an Urban, Rural, and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy. This investment includes today's announced amount of $281.5 million from Budget 2022 and an additional $5.6 million from Budget 2023 for Indigenous Services Canada to address urgent, unmet housing projects through NICHI, with the balance of funding going to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) to support the engagement on the co-development of the longer-term Urban, Rural and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy. This Strategy is intended to complement the three existing distinctions-based housing strategies for First Nations, Inuit and Métis, as well as other investments in Indigenous housing. CMHC continues their work in co-developing the longer-term Urban, Rural, and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy with Indigenous partners.
A significant gap remains for Indigenous Peoples living in urban, rural, and northern areas and there is an urgent need to act now.
Access to safe and affordable housing is critical to improving health and social outcomes, and to ensure a better future for Indigenous communities and children. This funding initiative is part of the Government of Canada's commitment to address the social determinants of health and advance self-determination in alignment with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People and Articles 21 and 23. Through these and other actions, the Government of Canada is moving ahead in the journey towards reconciliation.
