Published by Indigenous Services Canada
June 8, 2023 — 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 projects. The 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.
