CHRA’s Indigenous Housing Caucus has received $189,000 in funding as part of a collaborative federal research grant from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and Indigenous Services Canada to identify issues – such as expiry of operating agreements, waitlists, and housing management – most prevalently affecting urban, rural, and northern Indigenous housing service providers. 
Acknowledging that urban, rural and northern Indigenous housing may not be effectively addressed by current federal policies or that potential gaps exist, results from this project will help inform a call for increased and improved services and supports.
This research project is comprised of a comprehensive electronic survey to be released in December 2018 and interviews with Indigenous housing service providers across Canada from January to March 2019. Indigenous consulting firm Daniel J. Brant & Associates will undertake the research on behalf of the CHRA Indigenous Caucus.
Note: This study is intended for urban, rural and northern housing providers. At this time, the scope of the research does not include transitional housing or shelters. If you fit the criteria for this research and have not received a link to complete the survey by December 20, 2018, please contact housing@dbrant.ca
Indigenous non-profit, social and affordable housing organisations are seeing their funding operating agreements diminish and expire at a rapid rate with no long-term, sustainable or consistent solutions.
After several years of advocacy work by CHRA’s Indigenous Housing Caucus, the federal government recognizes that the urban, rural, and northern Indigenous housing situation is at a critical juncture and funding and policy is required to support the sector.
Descriptive data on urban and native Indigenous housing currently does not exist. Policy and fiscal decision-making rests on anecdotal or outdated information. The findings from this research will be compiled and the non-attributable results will be shared with government to advocate for increased housing services and supports for the Indigenous population not living on reserve lands. This is in line with the government’s appetite for and stated mandate to make clear, evidence-informed decisions
Census 2016 data shows that 64% of all Indigenous households in Canada are located in urban and metropolitan areas. In total, 87% of all Indigenous households are not located on reserves.
Yet federal funding for Indigenous homes does not reflect this demographic reality and therefore fails to adequately address the housing needs of urban, rural, and northern Indigenous peoples. The failure to address this issue is also a contributing factor in the high rates of homelessness among Indigenous populations.
For all other inquiries, contact SM Leduc, Manager of Research and Policy at Indigenous@chra-achru.ca