Indigenous Leaders Demand Immediate Action on Urban, Rural and Northern Housing Funds
The Indigenous Caucus of the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association (CHRA) Calls on the Federal Government to Release $2.8 Billion for Indigenous-Led Housing Programs.
OTTAWA—MARCH 6, 2025— Today, the Indigenous Caucus of the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association (CHRA) held a press conference calling on the federal government to immediately release the $2.8 billion funding allocation that it has committed to Indigenous housing providers.
This funding, originally part of $4 billion announced in Budget 2023 to establish a For Indigenous, By Indigenous (FIBI) Urban, Rural and Northern (URN) housing strategy, has faced repeated delays. Indigenous leaders are demanding that the government fulfill its commitment and transfer the funds to a national URN Indigenous housing organization so that Indigenous-led providers can begin addressing the Indigenous housing crisis, without further obstacles to the delivery of critical supports.
“For years, the federal government has promised this funding and failed to deliver,” said Jackie Hunt, Chair of CHRA’s Indigenous Caucus. “Indigenous People are disproportionately over-represented in the housing and homelessness crisis, yet they are the last to receive support. By dragging its feet on this funding, the government is actively breaking its commitments to Indigenous Peoples living in urban, rural, and northern communities.”
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), which Canada signed into law in 2021, mandates that Indigenous Peoples must be included in the development and administration of housing policies and programs that affect them. Yet, despite this legal obligation, the federal government has failed to act.
“We are deeply disappointed that the federal government has once again abandoned its promises to Indigenous People,” said Margaret Pfoh, Board President of CHRA and the CEO of the Aboriginal Housing Management Association (AHMA). “Indigenous housing providers are ready, willing, and fully capable of deploying these funds immediately. We have shovel-ready projects that could move ahead today, if only the government would follow through on its word.”
Today’s press conference builds on ongoing advocacy efforts by CHRA, including a letter sent to the Prime Minister outlining specific calls to action, which was signed by over 50 Indigenous and non-Indigenous housing advocacy groups.
“The cost of inaction is far too high; every day that passes without this funding means more Indigenous Peoples are being forced into unsafe, overcrowded, and unaffordable housing,” said Hunt. “With so much uncertainty ahead, the impact of further delays will only get exponentially worse.”
Media Contact:
Scott Bandy
scott.bandy@crestviewstrategy.com
613-880-1654
As urban, rural, and northern Indigenous housing providers and allies we can wait no longer. What’s at stake is $2.8 billion promised and committed by the federal government, but not delivered. What’s at stake are thousands of URN Indigenous peoples facing another bleak winter waiting for homes that are not yet built.
The Government of Canada’s own National Housing Council recommended “an initial budget request for fiscal years 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 in the minimum amount of $6.3 billion”.
The Parliamentary Budget Officer estimated $27 billion in capital contributions will be needed to address Indigenous housing need.
Federal Budget 2023 committed $4 billion to implement a “co-developed” Urban, Rural, and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy, primarily through a still-unresolved RFP to deliver $2.8 billion announced January 22, 2024.
It is time for the Government of Canada to honour its funding promise and make good on its written commitment almost two years ago in Budget 2023. The time for action is now.
As the Indigenous Housing Caucus of the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association, we call upon the Federal Government to delay no longer.
We issue these three CALLS TO ACTION:
- Immediately announce the national URN Indigenous housing organization selected to administer the URN Indigenous housing funds.
- Release the $2.8 billion funds without further delay to a national URN Indigenous housing organization.
- Respond to these Calls to Action by letter no later than January 22, 2025, one year after the announcement of the RFP.
As rural, urban, and northern Indigenous housing providers we can wait no longer. Over 80 per cent of Indigenous people live in urban areas and in rural and northern communities. Too many are in core housing need or unhoused.
We require you and your government to show respect and honour us for our long and proven track record. We cannot accept missing yet another construction season, because your government did not make timely decisions and release the promised funds. We expect you to act now.
Our URN Indigenous housing movement is strong. We have been patient and polite, waiting for you to fulfill your commitment and move expeditiously. But we can no longer accept the wait. We have many partners and supporters - URN Indigenous agencies and services alongside our non-Indigenous allies and CHRA members – and are ready to harness the power of the collective to rally behind these calls to action.
We invite Indigenous-led organizations and allies to support our calls to action.
