Indigenous people in BC will have access to approximately 1,600 new affordable rental homes through partnerships between the province, through BC Housing, and Indigenous nonprofit housing providers, according to a media release from BC Ministry of Housing.
"Around 1,600 culturally appropriate homes will soon become places of comfort and stability for many Indigenous people throughout BC who face a greater need for affordable housing," stated minister of housing Ravi Kahlon. "These additional homes are part of our ongoing reconciliation work to ensure that Indigenous people are provided the resources and services to thrive in the communities they call home. With collective support from partners, we are better able to deliver housing that meets people's needs."
The second set of homes selected through the Building BC: Indigenous Housing Fund (IHF) includes 41 on- and off-reserve projects that will provide 1,662 affordable rental homes. It includes 667 on-reserve homes for First Nations members and 995 off-reserve homes for Indigenous people.
One of the IHF projects, in partnership with Tla'amin Nation, involves building 30 homes at 5903 Arbutus Avenue in Powell River. The rental homes are planned for Tla’amin families and other Indigenous people living in the qathet region and are anticipated to be made up of two- and three-bedroom units.
“Tla’amin is returning home to our original village of tis’kwat,” stated Tla’amin hegus John Hackett. “I’m flooded by emotion because for the first time in 150 years, our people, the decendents of those forcibly removed from tis’kwat, will once again be reconnected and caring for our original village site.”
The project is Tla’amin’s first major housing development located outside of the main community of t̓išosəm. Tla’amin regained over 8,300 hectares of its territory through the modern treaty process.
"With each new home built through the Indigenous Housing Fund, we are taking meaningful action to address the critical need for culturally supportive shelter and foster a lasting vision of community and resilience for First Nations in British Columbia," stated Terry Teegee, regional chief of the BC Assembly of First Nations. "As the first of its kind fund in Canada to provide provincial investments for on-reserve housing, the Province of BC is leading by example on the collective effort needed to address this crisis which disproportionately impacts First Nations in BC. By meeting the fundamental needs of families and elders, both on and off reserve, we lay a strong foundation for people to thrive, while advancing our collective journey toward reconciliation."
The IHF is a $1.7-billion provincial program, administered by BC Housing, to support the government's target of delivering 3,500 homes for Indigenous families, elders, individuals and people with disabilities on and off reserve, according to the release.
BC Housing is working closely with successful applicants, including Indigenous nonprofit housing providers and First Nations, to continue these projects through the development process, the release stated. More information about specific projects, including funding amounts and development timelines, will be made public as they are finalized.
A map showing the location of all announced provincially funded housing projects in BC is available at bchousing.org/homes-for-BC.
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