OTTAWA – POLITICS – Bob Nault, Member of Parliament (Kenora riding), announced $638 million in investments to ensure that Indigenous peoples living in urban, rural and Northern communities have better housing now, and for generations to come.
The commitment to address Indigenous homelessness and housing was announced by the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and the Honourable Seamus O’Regan, Minister of Indigenous Services.
“We are committed to ensuring that Indigenous peoples in the Kenora riding and across Canada have a safe and affordable place to call home so they can build a better future for themselves and their families,” stated Nault. “This investment is extremely significant and will help families to provide their children security and a much better environment to grow and live healthy and happy lives.”
Through Reaching Home, Canada’s Homelessness Strategy, funding is being dedicated to address Indigenous homelessness in urban centres. This includes funding to maintain the community-based approach and to continue to address local priorities. It also includes additional investments for priorities determined in collaboration with Indigenous partners.
Additionally, as part of Canada’s first-ever National Housing Strategy, funding is being dedicated to preserve and improve the condition of housing units for urban Indigenous families living in cities or urban centres across the country.
Part of this federal investment will be through the Canada Community Housing Initiative as part of new bilateral agreements with provinces and territories. It will also support Indigenous households currently living in community housing. The remaining federal government funding is for Indigenous housing projects through the National Housing Co-Investment Fund.
The Government is also currently working with Indigenous housing providers, National Indigenous Organizations, and other partners to explore innovative, long-term approaches for meeting the housing needs of Indigenous peoples, regardless of where they live.
“Today’s announcement is a significant step forward in addressing Indigenous housing and homelessness concerns,” concluded Nault. “By working together with our Indigenous partners, we will continue to make positive steps to improve life for Indigenous peoples in Canada’s Northern communities.”
Quick Facts
Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy will begin on April 1, 2019.
- Through Reaching Home, a total of $413 million is dedicated to address Indigenous homelessness in urban centres over the next nine years. This will represent an increase of almost 70 percent in dedicated Indigenous funding over current levels. This will provide:
o $261 million over a nine year period to maintain the community-based approach and to continue to address local priorities; and
o $152 million, over nine years that will be invested on priorities determined in collaboration with Indigenous partners, to be phased in over three years.
- As part of Canada’s first-ever National Housing Strategy, a total of $225 million is dedicated to preserving and improving the condition of housing units for urban Indigenous families living in cities or urban centres across the country. This funding will provide:
o $200 million in federal investments to be delivered through the Canada Community Housing Initiative as part of new and more progressive bilateral agreements with provinces and territories. The funding will support Indigenous households currently living in community housing; and;
o $25 million for Indigenous housing projects through the National Housing Co-Investment Fund.
- Through investments made in Budget 2017 and Budget 2018, the government has dedicated funding to support the successful implementation of each of the distinctions-based housing strategies, including:
o $600 million over three years to support First Nation housing on reserve as part of a 10-year Housing Strategy that is being developed with First Nations.
o $400 million over 10 years to support an Inuit-led housing plan in Nunavik, Nunatsiavut and Inuvialuit. This is in addition to the $240 million over 10 years announced in Budget 2017 to support housing in Nunavut.
o $500 million over 10 years to support the Métis Nation’s housing strategy.
