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.”

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Scott Bandy
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