Indigenous Housing Caucus Day Highlights Report 2019

Federal Social Development Minister, Jean-Yves Duclos and the new Indigenous Services Minister, Seamus O’Regan announces a $638 million investment to address homelessness and housing for Indigenous people living in cities and urban areas. However, of that funding, over two-thirds will go to the government’s homelessness strategy, and no new monies were earmarked directly to housing providers. In an interview with CBC News following the announcement, Caucus member and Indigenous housing provider, Marc Maracle noted that the biggest housing challenge for Indigenous people is affordability and that the focus on homelessness in the funding ignores the real root of the problem, especially since half of the Indigenous population in Canada lives in urban centres where housing is often expensive.

MARCH 2019

Caucus members Marc Maracle and SM Leduc co-author an op-ed on the state of housing of Canada’s urban Indigenous population. The key message from the piece suggests that the federal government must be mindful in how it undertakes major policy shifts and in the emerging political momentum on tackling the Indigenous housing crisis and homelessness, urban and rural Indigenous stakeholders cannot be an afterthought in the process.

It has been another busy year for the Caucus Working Group, with no plans to slow down advocacy efforts. Some critical questions for the federal government still remain unanswered: What federal dollars have been transferred to provincial and territorial governments to address urban, rural and northern Indigenous housing interests? Will the bilateral housing agreements with the provinces and territories explicitly protect existing dollars, or increase funding, for Indigenous housing?

Following Caucus Day 2019, the Working Group will send a request to meet the new Minister of Indigenous Services, Seamus O’Regan, to discuss the outcome of Caucus Day and the findings from the research grants on urban, rural, and northern Indigenous housing.

SESSION ONE: MAPPING OUR JOURNEY

The session focused on mapping the journey of urban, rural, and northern Indigenous housing advocacy since the 1970s and reflected on the creation of the Caucus in 2013.  Building on the momentum of the last several years, Caucus delegates were asked, “What’s next? Where do we go from here?”

The goal of the Indigenous Caucus Working Group has been to broaden network visibility and continue to build credibility.  This was done by educating politicians and decision-makers at the national and regional levels about the housing needs of urban, rural and northern Indigenous households and the critical role the Caucus plays in meeting these needs.  

In pressing for recognition and a “For Indigenous, By Indigenous” vision of a National Housing Strategy for urban, rural, and northern Indigenous people, the Caucus Working Group received $189,000 in funding in 2018 as part of a collaborative federal research grant from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and Indigenous Services Canada to identify issues —such as operating agreements, waitlists, and housing management —most prevalently affecting urban, rural, and northern Indigenous housing service providers.  Indigenous consulting firm Daniel J. Brant & Associates were retained to complete the project and provided a debrief of their findings to Caucus delegates.

Following several months of census surveys and interviews, the Brant Report documents, among other things, an infrastructure inventory, including conditions of housing units across the country, and outlines financial operations.  The Report concludes that the federal government should establish and fund a National Indigenous Housing Centre, with a mandate to address operational and support service issues faced by urban, rural, and northern Indigenous housing providers that enables transformational change to benefit the sector and foster reconciliation.

Acknowledging that urban, rural and northern Indigenous housing is not effectively addressed by current federal policies and gaps exist, the results from the project will help inform CHRA and Indigenous Caucus calls for increased and improved services and supports. 

Working off this framework, delegates broke off into discussion groups and were asked to give direction to the Indigenous Caucus Working Group and to provide their thoughts and feedback on the future of the Indigenous Caucus. Urban, rural, and northern Indigenous housing have many pressing issues —everything from saving current housing stock and keeping it affordable, regenerating housing and rapidly increasing social and affordable housing units, to getting good data and a fair share of funding resources at federal, provincial and local levels.  

What follows is a summary of the ideas that were captured by the over 20 notetakers and discussion leads throughout the discussion session. These discussions not only serve delegates in helping them make connections and network but are particularly instrumental in helping structure the CHRA’s Indigenous Caucus Work Group workplan for the coming year.

As Caucus Delegates, what are your top two priorities for action in the next 12 months?  What is your direction to the Indigenous Caucus and the Working Group to get this priority recognized and acted on nationally? Delegates identified the following topics as priorities for action:​

• Succession planning and end of Operating Agreements
• Increasing housing stock and land acquisition
• Finding and developing alternative revenue streams, such as social enterprise
• Leveraging resources to achieve social equity
• Accessing funding for sustainable (green) technologies
• Collecting data for better management and program planning
• Building organisational capacity
• Recruiting, retaining, and training qualified staff
• Creating learning opportunities with other housing organisations (both Indigenous and non-Indigenous)
• Briefing community and governments to help create awareness and develop partnerships
• Creating and influencing political will
• Growing services provided to tenants
• Serving (in a holistic manner) and developing programing for women and their children
• Providing better services to youth
• Improving relationship and communications with tenants

Delegates identified the following general activities for the consideration of the Caucus Working Group:

• Establish regular meetings or briefing with the federal government to raise and elevate the issues faced by urban, rural, and northern Indigenous housing and service providers. New infrastructure is being developed with little experience from the distinctions-based groups where urban providers have the experience and knowledge. Government needs to be made aware of this disconnect.
• Set up meetings to discuss and collaborate with distinctions-based groups. As it currently stands, there is little to no connection from distinctions groups with urban housing organisations, meaning there lacks accountability of how federal funding to develop housing strategies is being spent and deliverables reported. 
  • Distinctions-based groups received large amounts of funding for their housing strategies; however, this funding has yet to trickle down to the urban and rural housing organisations, even those that are more distinctions focused (Métis housing groups).
  • Clarify with each distinction group their mandate and find possible ways to work together.
• Discuss succession planning (including funding and program structures and allocation, future of subsidy levels, and continuation of Operating Agreements) with all levels of government. Draw links with economic savings (investment in housing lowers costs in other services) and broader political mandates (EOA will lead to economic evictions and increases in homelessness and precarious housing situations for vulnerable people, especially women and children).
• Communications:
  • Making conferences and learning opportunities more accessible through technology such as live streaming
  • Increase frequency and improve two-way communications between Caucus delegates and Working Group throughout the year. Stay in touch, ensure consistent communication with housing/service providers. This will also help build a healthy sector relationship and trust that empowers Indigenous communities
  • Develop high-level sharable communications pieces for meetings and debriefing (key messages and recommendations)
  • More practical communications on research and available funding resources
• Research for better advocacy purposes, including sharing and/or developing:
  • Identifying and understanding the working relationship between the different levels of government (F/P/T/M) and with/between the distinctions-based groups, and identifying who is leading processes
  • The unique issues faced by northerners (including high cost of living and development), and not lumping the North together with urban and rural. The role of Self-Governing First Nations and whether they would be an ally/partner on work the Caucus undertakes
  • Identifying regional challenges between provincial jurisdictions (and sharing best practise models and practical housing solutions) which will help the federal government understand regional contexts
  • Gaps analysis on how current funding and program structures exclude some demographics (such as women)
  • Costing exercise to understand the state of urban and rural housing, such as current conditions of building and associated costs with their repair or rebuild, as well as asset values
  • Home ownership models for those ready to leave community housing
  • What is Indigenous housing? Importance of ceremony and explaining culturally appropriate services and learning (what are activities offered and how do tenants get involved)
  • Vacant land database or information
  • How community housing can use and/or access funding for environmentally sustainable technologies
  • Best practises and lessons learned from international Indigenous housing organisations or groups
  • Housing First models and Indigenous housing
  • Stories of economic evictions and potential increase of homelessness in Canada as advocacy tool that crosses several key government initiatives

Other issues brought forward in the discussions: 

• Consultation fatigue. Feeling that there is duplication in data requests from consultants and government. 
• Simplifying data. The Brant report survey was overwhelming and time consuming. Tried to do too many things with one research report.
• Harmonizing efforts. More alignment is needed at the provincial and federal levels to reduce risks and challenges placed on housing sector.
• Central supports. Federal government needs to identify ways to streamline political supports (funding and programming) to ensure everything works together cohesively. Having a centralized housing body that oversees all providers and holds them accountable consistently. 
• Taking action. Sense that the Caucus delegates discuss same topics every year with little to show in improvement. More proactiveness on previously identified priorities and issues.
• Sense of urgency. Concern that Indigenous issues will fall off the federal radar leading up to the election; engagement with all political parties necessitated.

What are the core components of a solid work plan to develop for this Caucus?

• Advocacy —create clear and consistent external communications that prioritize key messages from meetings with urban, rural, and northern Indigenous housing providers and direction from Caucus Day
• FIBI proposal —still missing are concrete timelines, an effective and realistic process to guide the proposal forward, provide sense of urgency of current Indigenous housing landscape, formal business plan (moving from aspirational to concrete), seek proposal endorsement (including external organisations and groups)
• Networking opportunities—missing a year-round forum or space to share experiences and challenges
• Increase partnerships —seek external partnerships such as philanthropic groups and businesses
• Political organisations —need political Indigenous organisations to stand alongside the Caucus. The Caucus should be the bridge between these political organisations and Caucus delegates
• Strategic plan —create a realistic national-level plan with timelines, deliverables, and communication mechanism
• Communications plan —better two-way sharing of information and resources for on/off reserve migration, particularly with rise of Indigenous urbanization
• Frequency of gathering —annual Caucus Day is not enough. Organise other meetings and activities throughout the year (e.g. dedicated Hill Day with additional activities)
• Additional resources —advocate and seek resources to address Caucus plans, including funding through grants and research monies and dedicated staffing
• Governance —develop Terms of Reference and process for inclusion on the Working Group before the next federal election, so Caucus is ready to go once new Cabinet is put in place
  • Each province and territory should be represented to better reflect the challenges each faces. Allow new members to join but membership cannot be so large to encumber work
  • Rename the Working Group (e.g. Committee or Coalition) to better reflect the importance of the group

SESSION TWO: OPENING NETWORKING SESSION

Caucus Day 2019 was centered on opportunities to connect with peers and delve into the subjects that matter most to Indigenous housing providers.  The Open Networking session was intended to generate communication and collaboration, bringing delegates together to share ideas and develop solutions to the various challenges and emerging issues faced as homelessness and housing services providers for Indigenous Peoples.  Delegates were involved in simultaneous mini-discussions based around a theme or an issue.  Networking helps delegates approach a challenge differently by using the knowledge and input from a diverse group of people and bring new energy and commitment to addressing community and housing.

Unlike the structured discussion format in Session One: Mapping Our Journey, this session was driven by what delegates wanted to talk and learn about.  A Notetaker was present for each discussion group to capture the ideas and some probing questions were provided to help get the conversation flowing, but otherwise the session took a more creative approach to problem-solving, asking advice, and sharing successes and lessons learned.  What follows is a summary of the topics and ideas that were captured throughout the discussion session.

Focus on relationships —First Nations (AFN), Métis (MNC), Inuit (ITK)

How would you like to see urban First Nations, Métis, Inuit and represented at the federal level for housing and homelessness?

• “For Indigenous, By Indigenous” requires clarification regarding inclusion of political Indigenous organisations. The federal government is not dealing with individual housing providers or Nations, but the political groups —so who should represent what? Regardless, federal government must still recognize the boundaries between reserve land needs and those of individuals living in urban, rural, and northern areas.
• Approach government through partnerships with common voice.
• Memorandum of Understanding to move the FIBI Centre forward, including process protocols for communications and decision-making.
• Formation of general urban Indigenous coalitions to leverage resources and find solution to challenges affecting communities.

What has been your experience working with or discussing urban housing with the Indigenous political organisations? Do you receive any resources or support from First Nation reserve communities, the Assembly of First Nations, the Métis National Council, or the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami?

• Delegates overwhelming affirmed that funding is not being flowed directly to the housing providers from the Nations.  It is unclear how the Nations are counting and including their off-reserve population in their housing and infrastructure funding.
• At the same time, many urban Indigenous have no connection with Nations. Need to find a middle ground in the funding structures coming out of the federal government that recognizes this break while still meeting the needs of all population groups.
• Political groups must include policies with accountability frameworks in their housing strategies that dedicate funding to urban, rural, and northern housing. Funding must go to housing based on consultation and needs-assessment, both infrastructure and people-centered
• Clarity is required on the role of NAFC in housing and if Caucus could form stronger partnerships.  Individual Friendship Centres attend Caucus Day and are CHRA members.

A “For, Indigenous, By Indigenous” National Housing Centre

Details on the Centre still need to be developed, including the organizational structure, HR requirements, the governance structure, operating principles and operating budgets.  Several options have been floated. For a “For Indigenous, By Indigenous” National Housing Centre, which organizational model would you support?

1. A stand-alone organization.
2. A sister or subsidiary of the CHRA.
3. A partner to regional indigenous organizations (e.g. Aboriginal Housing Management Association and Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services)
4. A stand alone with flow-through for funding from CMHC.
5. Other? Please specify.

Only a handful of delegates at this mini-discussion had previously read the FIBI proposal, so those in attendance wanted to know more. Rather than discussing the organizational model, an overview of FIBI was presented. Delegates raised the following:

• Important that the Centre be Indigenous-led with healthy partnerships and collaboration with allied sector organisations, such as health and social services, NWAC, etc.
• Centre should ensure a central voice is given to the issues faced by women, girls, and gender diverse people
• Centre must remain apolitical and member-driven, not guided by political organisations or political agendas
• The Centre’s output will be important to funders and will require strong accountability measures, including a standardized data reporting borne out of consultation with providers to ensure the right kind of data is included, and to avoid duplication and reporting burden
• Concern the Centre could take away from already limited tenant funding
• Centre should have access to data collection software that can be shared at an affordable price with housing providers

Federal Election 2019

What can we do to ensure urban, rural, and northern Indigenous housing is an election priority? How do we effectively engage all political parties and the mainstream Canadian public?

• Want to see Reconciliation in all the party platforms, concerned that a new government may not be as supportive as the Liberals have been and Indigenous issues will fall off federal importance
• Commitment by politicians is related to votes —need data-based communications that help local riding candidates in understanding the issues (such as Canadian Rental Housing Index and being able to identify local Indigenous housing providers)
• Drawing links between housing and cost saving, end of Operating Agreements and homelessness
• There need to be more room to share success stories. The approach to housing policy is often in a business manner, but provider’s mandates are to support people. Need to make this resonate.
• Concern that party platforms lump all Indigenous challenges together (and usually as a negative) rather than parcelling out the issues. Need to make housing stand out.
• Need to better engage with first-time voters
• “If you want to affect change, you have to tell the federal government specifically what you want” —policy proposals are long, make recommendations and asks clear and accessible to understand

Expiry of Operating Agreements

What has been the impact to date on the organisations that live in social housing? What does End of Operating Agreements mean for you as a housing provider —as managers, as community members, etc.?

• Most of the delegates attending this mini-discussion had Operating Agreements expiring soon.
• Economic evictions and concern over increasing homelessness
• No funding for capital repairs
• Units and assets are being sold in anticipation
• Difficulties identifying funds to replace subsidies. Some are using city-specific median rent prices as an option in expensive areas in the absence of Rent Geared to Income subsidies
• Federal government is unclear about the future of subsidies in their National Housing Strategy, making it difficult to plan for the future. Would like more information on available CMHC programming
• Would like better use of economies of scale, including creating a replacement reserve and combining units
• Would like to be creative with use of mixed-income rental units
• Would like to see a top-up of funding for programs where there specific housing waitlists exist (e.g. families with children, elders and seniors)

What are needs specific to youth? How do you engage with youth?

• Youth in Yukon have identified multi-unit residential buildings as a positive social feature —connecting with other tenants
• Housing First approach combined with communal-based developments —how to break down barriers to housing and address root caucus of homelessness such as mental health, rehabilitation, in/formal education, etc.
• Social innovation such as sweet equity which can lead to developing life skills and tenant engagement
• Getting beyond short-term employment for long-term skills development
• Offering land-based traditional programming
• Need a system that matches roommates together successfully to better utilize living spaces
• Keeping sibling groups together and informed as older siblings age out of services
• Giving youth a platform to speak and be involved in decision-making processes, such as youth advisors or youth group advisory committee. A caution, need a separate youth caucus involved in advisory boards to avoid tokenism on issues that matter and affect youth
• Celebrate success stories over the negative image

Leadership anxiety

How do you deal with all the voices in your head?

• Not being alone as a leader
• Succession planning
• Confidence building —trusting yourself and your staff, and acknowledging that mistakes will happen
• Using a holistic approach and options when developing a wellness plan, such as access to an Elder/Knowledge Keeper as wellness councillors
• Establishing core values through written mission statements; commitment to a strategy plan that defines work scopes; human resources procedure manuals
• Cross-sharing of knowledge with other leaders and organisations, such as best practises

CLOSING REMARKS

The theme for Caucus Day 2019 was “A Time for Action” and 2019 will provide an opportunity to influence the upcoming federal election and campaign commitments and continue to pursue federal decision-makers on the developments and implementation of an urban, rural, and northern Indigenous housing strategy.  The housing sector is stronger when we stand together and support one another.  It is our collective voices that will create a call to action that will get louder and louder from coast to coast to coast.  If Canadians across this country understand the issues concerning Indigenous Peoples and look for creative ways to work in partnership in solving them, governments will respond in profound ways. Through CHRA, the Indigenous Caucus Working Group will provide updates on activities and progress until the Caucus meets once again for Caucus Day 2020 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.  

WHO WAS IN THE ROOM

With representation from all territories and 9 provinces, Caucus Day 2019 brought together 203 delegates in total —an increase of 33.5% over the previous year. Approximately three-quarters of Caucus Day delegates are CHRA members. 

The increase in participation was particularly gratifying considering the distances travelled by so many to attend.  Maintaining and enhancing the momentum of the Indigenous Caucus itself and of Caucus Day speaks to the great interest, importance, and timeliness of Indigenous housing issues.  It is also a testament to the hard work and determination of those involved with Indigenous housing across Canada, and the strong advocacy from the CHRA Board, staff, and the CHRA Indigenous Caucus Working Group.

The diversity of geography and experience of delegates added richness to the panel presentations, the interactive discussion sessions and delegates’ policy recommendations.  In terms of sectors represented, delegates can be broken down as follows: