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The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Appearance before the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs (INAN)
Subject: OAG Report 2 on Housing in First Nations Communities
Date: Monday, June 3, 2024 (11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.)
Location: Wellington Building, Room 425

ERRATUM

In the Infrastructure Funding for Indigenous Communities note, a typographical error has been corrected in the Background section, under the subheading INFC Support for Indigenous Homelessness and Housing:

  • "Reaching Home launched in 2019, and the Government of Canada has committed $4.6 billion over 9 years…" should read "Reaching Home launched in 2019, and the Government of Canada has committed $4 billion over 9 years…".

This error was corrected in both the English and French HTML versions of the note.

  1. Funding for Indigenous and Northern Housing
  2. Infrastructure Funding For Indigenous Communities
  3. Infrastructure Funding for Rural and Northern Communities
  4. Funding and Programs for Shelters
  5. Indigenous Homelessness

Funding for Indigenous and Northern Housing

Issue / question

How is the Government of Canada working with Indigenous communities to help address housing needs?

Suggested response

  • The Government of Canada recognizes that gaps in housing for Indigenous peoples continue to persist, including on reserve, and that the rate of core housing need for Indigenous peoples, at 13.2%, is higher than the rate for non-Indigenous Canadians. That is why the federal government has committed more than $1.6 billion in funding through the National Housing Strategy exclusively for Indigenous and Northern Housing.
  • Since 2015, the federal government has committed more than $6.7 billion for housing in Indigenous communities and a further $4.3 billion to advance an Urban, Rural, and Northern Indigenous Housing strategy to improve and expand Indigenous housing in Canada.
  • Budget 2024 announced additional investments of $918 million to accelerate work in narrowing housing and infrastructure gaps in First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities.
  • The Government of Canada is committed to improving Indigenous housing outcomes, and to building a renewed relationship together with Indigenous peoples, based on recognition of rights, respect, cooperation and partnerships.

Background

  • Funding was announced in successive federal budgets to support Indigenous housing across Canada. This has included funding for distinctions-based housing strategies, as well as to support Indigenous housing in urban, rural, and northern areas.
  • The Government of Canada has established permanent bilateral mechanisms with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis leaders to identify joint priorities, co-develop policy and monitor progress. In many cases, these, along with other tables, support joint work on Indigenous housing.
  • Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and Indigenous Services Canada focus on several aspects of providing housing programs and services for eligible First Nation communities. Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada provides funding for the implementation of the Inuit Nunangat Housing Strategy and the Métis Nation Housing Sub-Accord, as well as to Modern Treaty and Self-Governing First Nations.
  • CMHC delivers specific housing programs that support construction, renovations, ongoing management of social housing and housing-specific development. CMHC has specialists located across the country that are working with Indigenous partners, communities, and organizations to facilitate access to the National Housing Strategy and other CMHC programs. For example:
    • CMHC’s On-Reserve Non-Profit Housing Program (Section 95) assists First Nations in the construction, purchase and rehabilitation and administration of rental housing on-reserve.
    • CMHC’s On-Reserve Renovation Programs offer financial assistance to First Nations to repair substandard homes to a minimum level of health and safety, to convert non-residential properties into affordable self-contained housing units, and improve the accessibility of housing for low-income seniors and persons with disabilities.
    • CMHC’s Shelter Enhancement Program on-reserve offers financial assistance for the repair, rehabilitation, and improvement of existing shelters in First Nation communities for survivors of family violence.
  • Budget 2022 proposed $4.3 billion over seven years towards improving and expanding Indigenous housing in Canada, which includes:
    • $2.4 billion over five years to support First Nations housing on reserves;
    • $565 million over five years to support housing in Self-Governing and Modern Treaty Holder First Nations communities;
    • $845 million over seven years to support housing in Inuit communities;
    • $190 million over seven years for housing in Métis communities; and
    • $300 million over five years to co-develop and launch an Urban, Rural, and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy.
  • Budget 2023 committed an additional $4 billion, over seven years, starting in 2024-25, to implement the Urban, Rural, and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy.

Infrastructure Funding For Indigenous Communities

Issue / question

How does Infrastructure Canada support the Government of Canada’s mandate to close the infrastructure gap in Indigenous communities?

Suggested response

  • The Government of Canada is committed to working with Indigenous communities to close the infrastructure gap and address Indigenous housing challenges, in the spirit of reconciliation.
  • Indigenous Services Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada lead on the Government’s commitment to close the gap, including with support from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation on federal investments in Indigenous housing. This involves meaningful engagement and partnerships with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis.
  • In offering programming that is open to all communities, Infrastructure Canada strives to reduce barriers for Indigenous communities to participate, including:
    • full and inclusive Indigenous eligibility;
    • increased federal cost share – up to 100% of eligible costs in some cases;
    • flexibilities around the kinds of eligible projects, and;
    • adapted application process and other program parameters.
  • Budget 2024 committed $6 billion towards a new water, wastewater, and solid waste fund. Of the $5 billion portion of the Fund through bilateral agreements, to ensure that funding reaches communities of all sizes and needs, provinces and territories will be required to dedicate at least 20% of their agreement-based funding for northern, rural, and Indigenous communities.
  • The housing, infrastructure, and communities portfolio will continue to support the Government of Canada’s commitment, led by colleagues, to close the Indigenous infrastructure gap.

Background

  • Announced in Budget 2021, Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) received $4.3 billion over four years, starting in 2021-22 for the Indigenous Community Infrastructure Fund to support their joint mandate to close the infrastructure gap in Indigenous communities by 2030. ISC received $25 million through the 2020 Fall Economic Statement to co-develop distinctions-based long-term infrastructure plans with Indigenous partners to address critical infrastructure needs.
  • Budget 2024 announced an additional investment of $918 million over five years to ISC and CIRNAC starting in 2024-25 to accelerate work in narrowing housing and infrastructure gaps in First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities.
  • Infrastructure Canada (INFC) plays a support role in the Indigenous infrastructure space, complementing the core, distinctions-based funding delivered by ISC and CIRNAC, and works in collaboration with these federal leads to support the Government of Canada’s commitment to close the Indigenous infrastructure gap by 2030.
  • National Indigenous Organizations, in collaboration with ISC and CIRNAC, have developed reports assessing the investments needed to close the Indigenous infrastructure gap by distinction. On April 9, 2024, the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) released a comprehensive report estimating that $349.2 billion ($289 billion for capital and $59.83 billion for O&M) would be required to close the infrastructure gap for First Nations. Meanwhile, in their September 2022 report, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) estimated that $75.1 billion ($55.3 billion for capital and $19.8 billion for O&M) is needed to close the gap in Inuit Nunangat, the traditional northern Inuit homeland encompassing 51 communities and four regions.

INFC Support for Indigenous Homelessness and Housing

  • INFC leads on Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy, which is a community-based program aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness across Canada.
  • Reaching Home launched in 2019, and the Government of Canada has committed $4 billion over 9 years to support communities in addressing homelessness for individuals and families across Canada.
  • Budget 2024 proposes to provide an additional $1.3 billion over four years, starting in 2024-25, for Reaching Home as follows:
    • $1.0 billion over four years, starting in 2024-25, to stabilize funding under the program. Of this investment, $50 million will focus on accelerating community-level reductions in homelessness.
    • $250 million over two years, starting in 2024-25, to address the urgent issue of encampments and unsheltered homelessness. This funding will require provinces and territories to cost-match federal investments, leveraging a total of $500 million.
  • In recognition of the significant overrepresentation of Indigenous people among the homeless population, Reaching Home has two funding streams specifically targeting Indigenous peoples: the Indigenous Homelessness stream and the Distinctions-based stream, though Indigenous people can also access services under all Reaching Home streams.
    • The Indigenous Homelessness stream provides funding to organizations that provide culturally appropriate services and supports to address the specific needs of Indigenous people living in urban centers who are experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness. Indigenous Homelessness stream funding is delivered in 30 urban communities and seven regions across the country.
    • The Distinctions-based stream provides support to homelessness-related initiatives determined in collaboration with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis partners to help ensure that programming meets the specific needs of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. A portion of this funding is also dedicated to support community-based homelessness initiatives led by modern treaty holders with provisions in their treaties related to the delivery of social services.
  • INFC provides federal housing policy leadership and supports federal housing efforts and investments. In addition to general housing programs which help support Indigenous housing investments, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) delivers housing programs and initiatives that support First Nations housing, notably, the On-Reserve Non-Profit Housing Program and On-Reserve Renovation Programs.
  • CMHC, ISC and CIRNAC, together with INFC, are advancing the Urban, Rural, and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy (U.R.N.). The $4.3 billion strategy complements other investments in Indigenous housing, as well as the three existing distinctions-based First Nations, Inuit, and Métis housing strategies. CMHC leads the overall implementation of U.R.N., including the establishment of a national for-Indigenous-by-Indigenous Housing Centre, which will allocate 70% of the $4 billion announced in Budget 2023, starting in 2024-25. The remaining 30% will be disbursed by ISC and CIRNAC through distinctions-based mechanisms. Budget 2022 announced $300 million for immediate needs, which is being delivered by ISC.

INFC Program Funding and Capacity Supports for Indigenous Applicants

  • INFC adopted measures in the design of its five direct-delivery programs to eliminate barriers and improve access for Indigenous communities. These include minimum 10% program allocations for Indigenous projects, full and inclusive Indigenous eligibility, increased federal cost share – including up to 100% of eligible costs – and flexibilities around asset eligibility, application process and other program parameters.

Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB)

  • The CIB currently has a target of $1 billion of investment funding toward Indigenous community-based projects across the Bank’s five priority areas: clean power, green infrastructure, public transit, broadband, and trade and transportation. Within its programs, the CIB has two specific efforts to support Indigenous communities:
    • The Indigenous Community Infrastructure Initiative which provides low-cost loans for projects with $5 million to $100 million in capital expenditures, typically in the water, wastewater, electrical, and energy sectors.
    • The Indigenous Equity Initiative (IEI), through which the CIB looks to lend to Indigenous communities to provide them with access to capital to purchase equity stakes in infrastructure projects in which the Bank is also investing. The IEI only funds projects in the Bank’s five priority areas.
  • As of February 15, 2024, the CIB has committed a total of $312.2 million towards 11 projects benefitting 59 Indigenous communities under the ICII and the IEI.
  • The CIB can also work with Indigenous partners by providing advice and accelerator funding to help projects move through concept to early-stage feasibility work, commercial structuring, and financial analysis.
  • Budget 2024 highlighted the launch of the CIB’s new Infrastructure for Housing Initiative, which will provide low-cost financing to municipalities and Indigenous communities to fund infrastructure needed to support new housing developments.

Future-Oriented Infrastructure Programs

  • Future INFC programs will be designed to ensure flexibility and responsiveness to the unique infrastructure needs and priorities of Indigenous communities, including through the provision of dedicated capacity supports.
  • INFC is currently working to advance new investments in infrastructure, including in areas of identified need and where the federal government has the greatest value-add such as water, wastewater and solid waste, and community assets.
  • Budget 2024 announced $500 million over five years, starting in 2024-25, to support more projects through the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program.
  • In addition, in response to the significant housing challenges faced by Canadian communities, including Indigenous communities, Budget 2024 committed $6 billion toward the new Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund to accelerate the construction of water, wastewater, and solid waste infrastructures which are critical to housing development. Projects will be selected for a $5 billion portion of the Fund through bilateral agreements with provinces and territories, and for the remaining $1 billion portion through a direct intake to INFC. To ensure that funding reaches communities of all sizes and needs, provinces and territories will be required to dedicate at least 20% of their agreement-based funding for northern, rural, and Indigenous communities.

Infrastructure Funding for Rural and Northern Communities

Issue / question

How is the federal government supporting rural and northern communities across the country?

Suggested response

  • We know that rural and northern communities face unique circumstances.
  • Dedicated programs like the Rural Transit Solutions Fund can adapt concepts like public transit to a rural environment.
  • The Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program has a dedicated stream to support rural communities. Projects address many community priorities, including food and energy security.
  • The Canada Community-Building Fund also provides funding for housing-enabling investments. This is used in rural areas to build roads, bridges and wastewater treatment.
  • Infrastructure Canada adapts programs to meet the needs of smaller and Indigenous communities, offering more flexible deadlines and increased federal contributions.

Background

  • The Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) is an allocation-based program. Provinces and territories, in consultation with municipalities and Indigenous communities, are responsible for identifying, prioritizing and submitting projects, and flowing funds to eligible ultimate recipients.
  • Managed through Integrated Bilateral Agreements, the ICIP was originally divided into four funding streams: Public Transit ($20.1 billion); Green Infrastructure ($9.2 billion); Community, Culture and Recreation Infrastructure ($1.3 billion); and Rural and Northern Infrastructure ($2 billion + $400 million for the Arctic Energy Fund).
  • Under ICIP, provinces had until March 31, 2023, to commit all funding and the Territories have until March 31, 2025.
  • Under the Canada Community-Building Fund funds are allocated on a per-capita basis using Census data, except for Prince Edward Island and the Territories, who receive a base amount in place of per-capita values due to smaller population sizes. Allocations intended for First Nations on Reserves in the provinces are managed by Indigenous Services Canada through the First Nations Infrastructure Fund.
  • The Rural Transit Solutions Fund is dedicated solely to rural communities and includes a planning component providing grants of up to $50,000 for smaller communities to think about and design how transit can work within their communities.
  • Direct delivery programs include: the Public Transit Program, the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund, the Natural Infrastructure Fund, the Rural Transit Solutions Fund, and the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program.
  • Direct delivery infrastructure programs have targeted funding and program flexibilities for Indigenous, rural, and northern communities. For example, all direct delivery programs have a minimum of 10% of the total funding envelope allocated for Indigenous recipients and these recipients can access 100% federal share. In addition, under the Active Transportation Fund and the Rural Transit Solutions Fund, Indigenous proponents can access various program flexibilities such as extended deadlines and continuous intakes.

Funding and Programs for Shelters

Issue / question

How will the National Housing Strategy support people who are victims of gender-based violence?

Suggested response

  • With the work done under the National Housing Strategy and other initiatives, we have supported the creation or repair of over 13,100 shelter spaces since 2016.
  • We are investing over $724 million to expand culturally relevant supports for Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people who are escaping gender-based violence through the Indigenous Shelter and Transitional Housing Initiative. Since the launch of this initiative, 34 projects have been selected: 20 shelters and 14 transitional housing projects.
  • Providing a safe and secure space for people fleeing domestic violence is a priority for the Government of Canada.

Background

  • The National Housing Strategy (NHS) prioritizes meeting the needs of vulnerable populations, including women and children fleeing domestic violence, and many of the initiatives under NHS will help women and single mothers. For example, the now $15 billion Affordable Housing Fund provides capital contributions and low-cost loans for both new construction and repair and renewal of existing shelters across the country. Through the Affordable Housing Fund, the Government plans to help build and maintain at least 4,000 shelter spaces for survivors of family violence by 2028. As part of this commitment, Budget 2021 carved out $250 million from the Affordable Housing Fund, specifically for the construction and operating of shelters and transitional housing for women and girls fleeing violence.
  • The NHS promotes a whole of government collaboration and alignment of efforts across federal priorities, including the Gender-Based Analysis Plus initiative, Women and Gender Equality’s Gender-based Violence Strategy and Employment and Social Development Canada’s Poverty Reduction Strategy. The Seed funding program was also available to provide interest-free loans and/or non-repayable contributions for early development costs associated with the construction of shelters.
  • As part of the 2020 Fall Economic Statement, the Government of Canada announced an investment of $724.1 million available for a comprehensive Violence Prevention Strategy to expand culturally relevant supports for:
    • Indigenous women and their children
    • 2SLGBTQQIA+ people facing gender-based violence
  • The NHS supports new shelters and transitional (second stage) housing across Canada for: First Nations, Inuit, and Métis. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation will allocate $420 million from 2020-2025 to support the construction of new shelters and transitional housing.
  • Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) will invest $304.1 million from 2020-2025, and $96.6 million annually to:
    • support the operational costs of new shelters and transition homes
    • expand funding for culturally relevant violence prevention activities. For information on funding for these activities, please visit the website for Family Violence Prevention Program
  • Budget 2024 provides an additional $1 billion to the Affordable Housing Fund, on top of funding announced in the Fall Economic Statement, to launch a new Rapid Housing stream to build deeply affordable housing, supportive housing, and shelters for our most vulnerable.

Indigenous Homelessness

Issue / question

How does Infrastructure Canada support the Government of Canada in addressing Indigenous homelessness?

Suggested response

  • Indigenous peoples are overrepresented among the population experiencing or at-risk of homelessness across Canada.
    • Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy is a community-based program aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness across Canada.
    • Reaching Home has two funding streams specifically for the delivery of culturally appropriate homelessness services to Indigenous peoples.
    • The Indigenous Homelessness Stream funds community organizations in 30 urban communities and seven regions across the country to provide culturally appropriate supports to Indigenous peoples.
    • The Distinctions-based stream provides funding directly to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis governing bodies to address their specific needs.
  • So far, Reaching Home is supporting over 2,500 projects primarily for Indigenous peoples, and has assisted over 18,300 people self-identifying as Indigenous in attaining more stable housing.
  • Recognizing the connection between housing and homelessness, since 2015 the federal government has committed more than $6.7 billion for housing in Indigenous communities and a further $4.3 billion to advance an Urban, Rural, and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy.
  • More than $1.6 billion in funding has been committed through the National Housing Strategy exclusively for Indigenous and Northern Housing, including to support those experiencing or at risk of homelessness, to access housing.
  • Budget 2024 also announced additional investments of $918 million to accelerate work in narrowing housing and infrastructure gaps in First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities.

Background

Infrastructure Canada (INFC) Support for Indigenous Homelessness and Housing

  • Indigenous peoples are overrepresented among the population experiencing or at-risk of experiencing homelessness across Canada. Indigenous peoples make up approximately 40% of the homeless population in shelters but represent approximately 5% of the general population.
    • Additionally, the proportion of Indigenous peoples in core housing need (13.2%) is higher than non-Indigenous Canadians (6.9%).
  • The experience of colonialism, intergenerational trauma, as well as ongoing systemic discrimination, puts Indigenous peoples at greater risk of experiencing the factors contributing to homelessness and homelessness itself such as:
    • Structural factors like poverty, discrimination, lack of affordable housing, and colonialism.
    • Systems failures like lack of access (health and social services, legal supports), and failed transitions from institutions (child welfare, hospitals, corrections).
    • Individual/Relational factors like sudden unemployment, mental health and substance use issues, housing insecurity, and interpersonal violence.
  • Recognizing the overrepresentation of Indigenous peoples among those experiencing or at-risk of homelessness, the launch of INFC’s Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy in 2019, introduced a significant focus on Indigenous homelessness, with dedicated funding to address the unique needs of Indigenous peoples through two funding streams: the Indigenous Homelessness stream and the Distinctions-based stream.
    • The Indigenous Homelessness stream provides funding to organizations that provide culturally-appropriate services and supports to address the specific needs of Indigenous peoples living in urban centers who are experiencing or at-risk of experiencing homelessness. Indigenous Homelessness stream funding is delivered in 30 urban communities and seven regions across the country.
    • The Distinctions-based stream provides support to homelessness-related initiatives determined through close collaborative relationships with First Nations, Inuit and Métis partners to help ensure that programming meets the specific needs of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. A portion of this funding is also dedicated to support community-based homelessness initiatives led by modern treaty holders with provisions in their treaties related to the delivery of social services. To date, grant agreements to fund homelessness-related projects have been reached with 21 Modern Treaty Holders (17 Self‑Governing First Nations and four Inuit Treaty Organizations), five Métis Nation governments, and seven regions of the Assembly of First Nations.
  • While the Territorial Homelessness Stream is not exclusively focused on the needs of Indigenous peoples experiencing or at-risk of homelessness, there is a significant focus on Indigenous homelessness given the high proportion of Indigenous peoples in each of the territories.
  • Indigenous peoples are not limited to accessing only the services that are funded by the Indigenous-specific streams. They may also access services and supports from organizations that are funded by the program’s other regional streams.

Reaching Home Funding

  • So far, the Government of Canada has committed $4 billion over nine years to support communities in addressing homelessness for individuals and families across Canada. This includes:
    • $686 million for the Indigenous Homelessness Stream and;
    • $204.2 million for the Distinctions-based Stream.
  • Budget 2024 proposes to provide an additional $1.3 billion over four years, starting in 2024-25, for Reaching Home, as follows:
    • $1.0 billion over four years, starting in 2024-25, to stabilize funding under the Reaching Home program (including $50 million that will focus on accelerating community-level reductions in homelessness);
    • $250 million over two years, starting in 2024-25, to address the urgent issue of encampments and unsheltered homelessness. This funding will require provinces and territories to cost-match federal investments, leveraging a total of $500 million.
  • Since April 2019, Reaching Home has funded 2,591 projects with a project funding total of over $718 million that includes, but is not limited to, Indigenous peoples as a target population. Of these projects, 965 were funded through the Indigenous Homelessness funding stream with a project funding total of over $284 million.

Indigenous Housing – Homelessness Linkages

  • Canada’s Housing Plan, announced on April 12, 2024, sets out an ambitious strategy to make housing more attainable and affordable, where everyone – including Indigenous peoples – has a place to call home. The Housing Plan includes three pillars: building more homes, making it easier to rent or buy a home, and helping Canadians who can’t afford a home.
  • Programming under the National Housing Strategy (NHS) supports priority populations, which includes Indigenous peoples and people at risk of or experiencing homelessness.
  • The Government of Canada has established permanent bilateral mechanisms with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis leaders to identify joint priorities, co-develop policy and monitor progress. In many cases, these, along with other tables, support joint work on Indigenous housing.
  • Of the $918 million directed to Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure in Budget 2024, $426 million will provide support for First Nations on reserve and $62 million is identified for Self-Governing and Modern Treaty First Nations.

INFC Program Funding and Capacity Supports for Indigenous Applicants

  • INFC adopted measures in the design of its five direct-delivery programs to eliminate barriers and improve access for Indigenous communities. These include minimum 10% program allocations for Indigenous projects, full and inclusive Indigenous eligibility, increased federal cost-share – including up to 100% of eligible costs – and flexibilities around asset eligibility, application process and other program parameters.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) Funding for Indigenous Housing and Homelessness

  • CMHC and Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) focus on several aspects of providing housing programs and services for eligible First Nation communities. Crown‑Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada provides funding for the implementation of the Inuit Nunangat Housing Strategy and the Métis Nation Housing Sub-Accord, as well as to Modern Treaty and Self-Governing First Nations.
  • CMHC provides funding for Indigenous housing and homelessness solutions under both the NHS and legacy programs.
  • Through the Shelters Initiative for Indigenous Women and Children, CMHC provided $43.8 million over five years for the construction of 25 new shelters to support Indigenous women, children and 2SLGBTQQIAA+ people fleeing family violence.
  • Additionally, CMHC and ISC have partnered to provide over $724 million to the Indigenous Shelter and Transitional Housing Initiative to support Indigenous women, children and 2SLGBTQQIAA+ people fleeing family violence. To date, CMHC has committed funding of over $159 million for 20 shelters and 14 transitional homes.
  • The Government of Canada has also committed $4.3 billion for an Urban, Rural and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy, to support housing for Indigenous peoples living off reserve. CMHC is currently evaluating proposals to establish an Indigenous-led National Indigenous Housing Centre, which will be responsible for disbursing much of the funding.
  • General NHS programs also support affordable housing for Indigenous peoples:
    • The Rapid Housing Initiative supported the rapid construction of rental housing and the conversion/rehabilitation of existing buildings to affordable housing to serve those in severe housing need or experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness. Over three rounds, $1.2 billion was provided for a total of 6,239 new units for Indigenous peoples, 40% of all supported units.
    • The Affordable Housing Fund provides low-cost repayable and forgivable loans to create new or repair existing affordable housing. Since its launch in 2018, $1.4 billion has been committed to support the construction of 5,510 new units and repair of 19,351 units of Indigenous housing.
    • The Affordable Housing Innovation Fund supports projects that test innovative financing models, unique designs and new ideas to make housing more accessible, better meet housing challenges, and lower the costs and risks of affordable housing projects. It has committed $67 million to fund the construction of 2,181 units of Indigenous housing.
  • Legacy housing programs that complement ISC’s funding for on-reserve housing includes the On-Reserve Non-Profit Housing Program (Section 95), which assists First Nations in the construction, purchase and rehabilitation and administration of rental housing on-reserve. Since 2015, over $1.1 billion has been committed for 6,184 new units of Indigenous on-reserve housing.
  • Since 2015, CMHC has committed $1.997 billion to support 49,842 units under legacy housing programs (including Section 95).
  • Similarly, the Shelter Enhancement Program offers financial assistance to repair, rehabilitate, and improve existing shelters in First Nation communities for survivors of family violence. Since 2015, CMHC has committed over $10 million for 40 beds.

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