Indigenous housing and service providers celebrate Provincial funding for culturally supportive homes
10 September 2024 - 7:29PM
Indigenous housing providers are celebrating today across BC as the
latest recipients of the Indigenous Housing Fund (IHF) are
announced.
“There is a growing need for culturally supportive housing both
on and off reserve throughout BC,” said Margaret Pfoh, CEO of the
Aboriginal Housing Management Association (AHMA). “The IHF
allows AHMA members and First Nations to continue the critically
important work of providing housing and services for those most in
need of a safe place to call home.”
In 2018, BC became the first province in Canada to invest in
First Nations’ housing on reserve, which is typically federal
jurisdiction. To date, more than 1,500 IHF homes are open or
underway throughout BC. The latest selection of 41 projects brings
the total number to more than 3,220 new affordable rental homes
supported through IHF and operated by Indigenous non-profit housing
providers.
“AHMA was the inspiration behind the development of the
Indigenous Housing Fund’s unique model,” commented Pfoh. “We are
proud of the collaborative work we have done with the Province and
BC Housing to establish this support for all Indigenous people in
BC, regardless of whether they live on or off reserve.”
“These homes will soon become places of comfort and stability
for many Indigenous people throughout B.C. who face a greater need
for affordable housing,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing.
“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 community they call home.”
Through the Indigenous Social Housing Management Agreement,
operating agreements with off-reserve Indigenous non-profit housing
organizations are administered by the Aboriginal Housing Management
Association (AHMA). AHMA is the first For Indigenous, By Indigenous
housing authority established in Canada and its members manage over
95% of all Indigenous-housing units located off-reserve in BC.
“It is welcome news that 12 AHMA members will receive IHF
funding to support their housing projects,” Pfoh added. “Indigenous
housing and service providers play an incredibly important role in
our society - they strengthen our communities by creating a sense
of belonging and well-being for individuals, families, Elders, and
youth.
We raise our hands in gratitude for their many decades of
community service.”
-30-
Read the BC Provincial Government
release: https://news.gov.bc.ca/31654
Quick FactsIn early 2022, AHMA released British
Columbia’s first Provincial Urban Rural and Northern Indigenous
Housing Strategy. Now widely endorsed and recognized as a
national baseline, the historic strategy is an integral step
forward in claiming and protecting the social, economic, and
housing rights of urban Indigenous Peoples. Endorse AHMA’s
strategy>
AHMA members with one or more projects selected to proceed with
IHF support:
- Aboriginal Land Trust Society
- Aboriginal Housing Society of Prince George
- Aqanttanam Housing Society
- Conayt Friendship Society
- Dze L Kant Housing Society
- Lu’ma Native BCH Housing Society (LNHS)
- Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Centre
Association
- Hiy̓ám̓ ta Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Housing Society
- Kekinow Native Housing Society
- M'akola Housing Society (MHS)
- Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society
- Vernon Native Housing Society
Quotes from the event (Margaret Pfoh, AHMA CEO)“Solutions
for Indigenous people must be led by Indigenous people. This isn’t
just a principle—it is the foundation of AHMA’s call for true
reconciliation.”
“AHMA is deeply honoured by the support of successive
governments, leading to today’s transformative announcements. We
extend our deepest thanks to this government for making these bold
investments. We also acknowledge all of the housing and
service providers who applied to the Indigenous Housing Fund and
still await the resources to proceed with their plans. We look
forward to supporting these AHMA members in being successful
recipients of the IHF in the near future.”
“Without a safe place to rest, healthcare, education,
employment—all these other vital needs—become impossible. As Grand
Chief Doug Kelly once told me, ‘People simply need a place to rest
before they can address anything else in their lives.’ Housing is
the foundation of everything—it is the cornerstone of
reconciliation.”
- Indigenous Housing Fund recipients announced in BC
Kelly Moon
Aboriginal Housing Management Association (AHMA)
communications@ahma-bc.org