Housing providers want more from Ottawa on help for Indigenous

OTTAWA — The Liberals have quietly promised social housing providers who support Indigenous Peoples living offreserve a bigger say in how billions in spending will be doled out, though not necessarily more money beyond what has already been promised.

The vow made during a housing conference in the national capital this week is designed to plug a hole in the Liberals’ vaunted housing strategy — the exclusion of urban Indigenous housing groups, who are already growing anxious about the fate of $225 million in promised federal spending set to roll out this fiscal year.

Advocates say the government failed to listen to the more than 100 urban Indigenous housing providers across the country and the constituency they serve.

Marc Maracle, executive director of the Ottawa-based Gignul Non-Profit Housing Corp., said federal officials are struggling to figure out how organizations like his can land more of the over $40 billion set aside for housing over the next decade.

“Until we’re part of that strategy and actively engaged and included and represented, then we can’t say we have an Indigenous housing strategy in this country,” he said.

Over half of Indigenous Peoples in Canada live off-reserve, according to the most recent census figures and statistics from the Indigenous caucus of the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association show urban Aboriginals are eight times more likely to experience homelessness and live in inadequate homes compared with the non-Indigenous population.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp., officials briefing conference delegates said the goal is to have all funding agreements signed by year’s end.