Published by Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services on February 4, 2025
Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services (OAHS) is honoured to share that the federal government has announced $14.8 million in funding to our organization through the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Affordable Housing Innovation Fund. This funding will help us to develop 593 housing units across 7 communities in Ontario.
The Affordable Housing Innovation Fund supports groundbreaking ideas that transform the affordable housing sector in Canada by fostering partnerships among diverse stakeholders, including private, non-profit, Indigenous, and government organizations.
One particularly innovative project in pre-development is a 30-bed supportive housing facility to be located on River Road in Sault Ste. Marie. In partnership with the Sault Ste. Marie Indigenous Friendship Centre (SSMIFC), this 24/7 supportive housing facility will provide critical services for Indigenous men experiencing chronic homelessness.
The Indigenous Community Advisory Board (ICAB) identified a critical gap in services and culturally safe spaces for Indigenous men through its assessment of local Point-in-Time (PiT) Counts, making this project a top priority.
Construction on the River Road project is set to begin in May 2025. Other projects in pre-development stage which will be supported by this funding include Cobourg, Ottawa, Hamilton, Thunder Bay, Sudbury, and North Bay.
“On behalf of the OAHS Board of Directors, chi miigwetch to the Government of Canada and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation for this vital investment in Indigenous housing through the Affordable Housing Innovation Fund. This $14.8 million in funding strengthens OAHS’s ability to provide safe, affordable, and culturally appropriate housing for Indigenous people across Ontario.
Addressing the housing crisis requires strong partnerships between Indigenous organizations and all levels of government, and we are committed to working together to create lasting solutions for Indigenous communities across the province.”
- Armand Jourdain Sr., OAHS Board Director & President of the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC)