NORTH
BAY, TRADITIONAL
UNCEDED ALGONQUIN TERRITORY, ON, Aug. 2, 2024
/CNW/ - Today, Member of Parliament for
Nipissing—Timiskaming, Anthony Rota,
on behalf of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous
Services and Minister responsible for FedNor, and National
Indigenous Collaborative Housing Incorporated (NICHI) Chief
Executive Officer John Gordon,
announced a recipient of NICHI's expression of need process to
address the critical need for safe and affordable urban, rural and
northern Indigenous housing projects in North Bay, Ontario.
Endaayaan Awejaa, a start-up non-profit organization that
provides youth and families with safe places to heal and build
solid foundations for their future, received $1 million from NICHI. This funding will be put
towards capacity building and enable the hiring of six dedicated
staff members with a primary focus on housing and transitional
support initiatives that currently support 100 youth.
Through the national process, $280.4
million out of a total funding amount of $281.5 million is being distributed to 73
projects across the country aimed at building approximately 3781
units. This funding was provided to Indigenous Services Canada
through Budget 2022 and was distributed by NICHI, applying its "For
Indigenous, By Indigenous" approach. NICHI brings together
Indigenous-led housing, homelessness, and housing-related service
delivery organizations to provide lasting solutions that address
diverse housing inadequacies including homelessness for Indigenous
Peoples living in urban, rural and northern areas.
Over 171,000 Indigenous Peoples in urban, rural and northern
areas off reserve are in core housing need according to the 2021
Census. Indigenous Peoples continue to experience core housing
needs at a significantly higher rate than non-Indigenous people –
with the gap between them being exacerbated by the housing and
homelessness crisis and by inadequacies in distinctions-based
funding. Through a For Indigenous, By Indigenous approach to
Indigenous housing that recognizes Indigenous organizations are
best placed to understand the needs of their communities,
Indigenous Services Canada is striving to close this gap by
2030.
Access to safe and affordable housing is critical to improving
health and social outcomes, and to ensure a better future for
Indigenous communities. This funding initiative is part of the
Government of Canada's commitment to address the social
determinants of health and advance self-determination in alignment
with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous People Articles 21 and 23.
Quotes
"The allocation and commitment of funds of $281.5 million in funds to our 73 projects,
including the Endaayaan Awejaa project, achieved within a record 11
months, highlights our dedication to expediting housing solutions
for Indigenous communities. Endaayaan Awejaa has been instrumental
in providing holistic support and safe housing for youth in
North Bay, reflecting the values
of community and cultural connection that are central to our work
at NICHI. We are honoured to support Endaayaan Awejaa in its
mission to foster environments where Indigenous youth can thrive
and grow. As the only National Indigenous Housing Organization,
NICHI ensures that funding reaches those who need it most quickly
and effectively through community-based knowledge and our members'
thousands of years of combined Indigenous housing experience."
John Gordon
Chief Executive Officer, National Indigenous Collaborative Housing
Incorporated
"This funding enables Endaayaan Awejaa to hire a team that can
focus in on the crucial issue of housing in a way that lines up
with the values and traditions important to the members of
indigenous society."
Anthony Rota
Member of Parliament for Nipissing—Timiskaming
Quick facts
- On June 8, 2023, the Government
of Canada announced that the
National Indigenous Collaborative Housing Inc. (NICHI) would
deliver $281.5 million in immediate
funding over two years to address the urgent, unmet needs of
Indigenous Peoples living in urban, rural and northern areas.
- NICHI held its expression of need process from late
November 2023 to January 12, 2024, and funding was allocated to 73
non-profit, Indigenous-led housing organizations by an objective,
unbiased Project Selection Advisory Council who prioritized urgent
and unmet housing need in Indigenous communities across the
country. $1.1 million of the total
funding amount remains to be allocated
- The National Indigenous Collaborative Housing Inc. (NICHI) is
an Indigenous-led national housing organization working to ensure
that all Indigenous people across Canada have access to supports and services
that provide safe, affordable, secure and dignified housing.
- Endaayaan Awejaa opened their doors in November of 2021, in
downtown North Bay, providing
youth with a safe place to develop personal and professional
skills. They also provide outreach services through care packages,
medicine bundles, and workshops and offer a variety of peer support
programs.
- Through this funding, additional staff members will on housing
and transition support initiatives for 100 youth.
- Support for projects will include funding for acquisitions of
new properties and buildings, construction of new facilities,
repairs and renovations, housing-related training, growing
organizational capacity and administration costs.
Associated links
National Indigenous Collaborative Housing Incorporated
(NICHI)
Housing for Indigenous Peoples
Funding for urgent, unmet Indigenous housing projects in urban,
rural and northern areas to be distributed through the National
Indigenous Collaborative Housing Incorporated
Endaayaan Awejaa
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SOURCE Indigenous Services Canada