THUNDER
BAY, TRADITIONAL UNCEDED ANISHINABEK TERRITORY, ON,
July 22,
2024 /CNW/ - Today, National Indigenous
Collaborative Housing Incorporated (NICHI) Chief Executive Officer
John Gordon, in collaboration with
the Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible of
FedNor, Patty Hajdu, announced the
recipients of NICHI's expression of need process to address the
critical need for safe and affordable urban, rural and northern
Indigenous housing projects. Through the national process,
$280.4 million out of a total funding
amount of 281.5 million is being distributed to 73 projects across
the country aimed at building approximately 3781 units. This
includes $30 million in funding for
five projects in Northern Ontario,
totalling 281 units led by:
- Seven Generations Education Institute, Kenora
- Kekekoziibii Development Corp., Kenora
- Fort Albany Women's Shelter, Timmins
- Reverend Tommy Beardy Memorial
Family Treatment Center, Thunder
Bay
Additional regional announcements are planned in the coming
months, including a fifth project in Northern Ontario that will be announced
shortly. This funding was provided to Indigenous Services Canada
through Budget 2022 and was distributed by NICHI, applying their
"For Indigenous, By Indigenous" approach. NICHI brings together
Indigenous-led housing, homelessness, and housing-related service
delivery organizations to provide lasting solutions that address
diverse housing inadequacies including homelessness for Indigenous
Peoples living in urban, rural and northern areas.
Over 171,000 Indigenous Peoples in urban, rural and northern
areas off reserve are in core housing need according to the 2021
Census. Indigenous Peoples continue to experience core housing
needs at a significantly higher rate than non-Indigenous people –
with the gap between them being exacerbated by the housing and
homelessness crisis and by inadequacies in distinctions-based
funding. Through a For Indigenous, By Indigenous approach to
Indigenous housing that recognizes Indigenous organizations are
best placed to understand the needs of their communities,
Indigenous Services Canada is striving to close this gap by
2030.
Access to safe and affordable housing is critical to improving
health and social outcomes, and to ensure a better future for
Indigenous communities. 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 Articles 21 and 23.
Quotes
"Indigenous housing providers deserve Indigenous advocacy at the
national level. By securing this investment and developing a For
Indigenous, By Indigenous funding process, NICHI is putting
Indigenous people back in charge of housing policy for our people
and communities. The overwhelming expression of need we received in
our application process – totalling $2
billion across 447 applications – demonstrates that the work
is far from over – but today, we're excited to announce funding
that will make a positive impact in the lives of Indigenous peoples
from coast to coast to coast."
John Gordon
Chief Executive Officer, National Indigenous Collaborative Housing
Incorporated
"In true partnership with Indigenous Peoples, we are getting
more houses built, faster. Communities know best what they need,
which is why these projects follow a By Indigenous, For Indigenous
approach. We will always be there for communities as they take the
lead to build houses; it's a matter of fairness."
The Honourable Patty Hajdu
Minister of Indigenous Services
"NICHI's remarkable achievement in swiftly delivering
$281.5 million underscores their
unwavering commitment to advancing Indigenous housing nationwide.
As a new organization, their expedient action demonstrates
unparalleled dedication and catalytic impact in transforming
community housing landscapes. We commend NICHI for their pivotal
role in driving forward this transformative initiative."
Lisa Ker, Acting Executive
Director for the Community Housing Transformation Centre
"With thousands of years of collective experience, urban, rural,
and northern Indigenous housing providers have the capacity,
know-how, and shovel-ready projects to address the challenge. NICHI
has shown that it can deliver funding programs swiftly, fairly, and
responsibly."
Margaret Pfoh
President, Canadian Housing and Renewal Association
Quick facts
- On June 8, 2023, the Government
of Canada announced that the
National Indigenous Collaborative Housing Inc. (NICHI) would
deliver $281.5 million in immediate
funding over two years to address the urgent, unmet needs of
Indigenous Peoples living in urban, rural and northern areas.
- NICHI held their expression of need process from late
November 2023 to January 12, 2024, and funding was allocated to 73
non-profit, Indigenous led housing organizations by an objective,
unbiased Project Selection Advisory Council who prioritized urgent
and unmet housing need in Indigenous communities across the
country. $1.1 million of the total
funding amount remains to be allocated
- The National Indigenous Collaborative Housing Inc. (NICHI) is
an Indigenous-led national housing organization working to ensure
that all Indigenous people across Canada have access to supports and services
that provide safe, affordable, secure and dignified housing.
- NICHI was formed out of a coalition of well-established
independent national, regional, and local housing and service
provider organizations, leveraging an extensive inventory of
housing knowledge, skills, expertise, and experience in key
areas.
- NICHI is an Indigenous-led, Indigenous-designed and
Indigenous-delivered organization that will advance Indigenous
housing solutions.
- Support for projects will include funding for acquisitions of
new properties and buildings, construction of new facilities,
repairs and renovations, housing-related training, growing
organizational capacity and administration costs.
Associated links
National Indigenous Collaborative Housing Incorporated
Housing for Indigenous Peoples
Funding for urgent, unmet Indigenous housing projects in urban,
rural and northern areas to be distributed through the National
Indigenous Collaborative Housing Incorporated
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SOURCE Indigenous Services Canada