The Government of Canada announced on Monday that it has officially launched its request for proposals process towards creating an Indigenous-led National Indigenous Housing Centre.
The role of the National Indigenous Housing Centre will be to "deliver funding to address core housing need of Indigenous Peoples living in urban, rural, and northern areas," said CMHC.
The structure of the organization, along with its governance, partnership opportunities, and activities have yet to be established, and the request for proposals process is encouraging interested Indigenous governments and/or Indigenous-led organizations to outline their visions for a National Indigenous Housing Centre, including those aspects.
Interested parties will have until Monday, March 4 to submit their proposals. Once selected, the chosen proponent will then lead the establishment, implementation, and operations of the National Indigenous Housing Centre.
The federal government says it will also work with First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and Modern Treaty Self Governing Indigenous Government partners on their distinctions-based housing strategies to support their people living in urban, rural and northern areas and discuss interim approaches for those who may not be ready."
"The future National Indigenous Housing Centre is a great step towards supporting an Indigenous-led approach to improve the housing outcomes of Indigenous Peoples living in urban, rural, and northern areas," said Minister of Housing, Infrastructure, and Communities Sean Fraser. "Once established, the National Centre will seek to ensure affordability and encourage the creation of new housing units to close the gap in core housing need for Indigenous families and individuals."
CMHC is managing the process on behalf of the Government of Canada, and in collaboration with Indigenous Services Canada, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, and Infrastructure Canada.
The creation of a National Indigenous Housing Centre comes from the Budget 2023 commitment of $4B over seven years to implement the Urban, Rural, and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy. In early 2023, CMHC provided funding to Indigenous governments and organizations to lead engagement on the creation of an Urban, Rural and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy, and a report of that engagement is expected to be released this spring.
Both the Urban, Rural, and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy and creation of a National Indigenous Housing Centre are platform promises that were made by the Liberal Party of Canada.
"Indigenous organizations are best placed to find sustainable housing solutions for their People," said Minister of Indigenous Services Patty Hajdu. "The National Indigenous Housing Centre will be the first Indigenous-led centre to manage and administer government funding directly to Indigenous Organizations, and it will lead the development of a wider urban, rural and northern Indigenous Housing Strategy. This For Indigenous By Indigenous approach to housing will play a crucial role in closing the housing gap for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples living in urban, rural, and northern areas."
