Funding Available for Shelters On-Reserve

Forgivable loans for up to 100% of total eligible costs for the construction of new shelters

CMHC will provide funding of $31.7 million, delivered through its On-Reserve Shelter Enhancement Program (SEP), to build 10 shelters in First Nation communities on-reserve across the country.

Program Details

ELIGIBILITY

Financial Support

Application Process

Timeline:

Expression of Interest Opens: Begin accepting applications – July 15, 2020
The application package must contain:
Completed Application Form (including all required documentation listed in the application form’s Checklist and the completed Financial Worksheet)
Deadline to submit applications – January 15, 2021
Assessment of applications by review and selection committee – February 2021
Identification of successful applicants – March 2021

Due to circumstances surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic, CMHC, ISC and CIRNA understand the added pressures on Indigenous communities to safeguard their members, which may cause hardships and delays for eligible proponents to submit their applications. The set timeline may be reviewed throughout the course of the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure a fair and equitable process for all eligible proponents.

Approval Process

Applications will be reviewed with input from representatives of national indigenous organizations and representatives of the federal partners organizations (CMHC and ISC))

Resources

Expression of Interest Submission

Submit your completed application packaged to NewShelterInitiative@cmhc-schl.gc.ca

Transcript

(Music plays)
(Visual: Scenic view of forest, trees in the foreground, looking out over water)

(Visual: In Fall 2017, Wiikwemkoong Unceded Indian Reserve in Ontario began construction on a shelter for survivors of domestic violence)

(Visual: The shelter will serve residents of their own and surrounding communities)

(Visual: The shelter will help them in their journey…)

(Visual: Car drives past the wooden “Welcome to Wiikwemkoong” sign beside the road)

Duke: Family is the cornerstone of what makes our community operate.

(Visual: View passing by, driving on road, of houses in community.)
(Visual: Duke Peltier, sitting in the Wiikwemkoong Band Office, in a wood panelled room, interview.)

Duke: Togetherness is something that each of the families here in our community have maintained uh, throughout uh… up to this day.

(Visual: Duke Peltier
Ogimaa (Chief) of Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory)

(Visual: Exterior of Wiikwemkoong Band Office building, area lined with bare winter trees, bright green grass in front of building.)

Duke: And that’s one of the things that we continue to- to nurture.

(Visual: Person walking up to front door of Wiikwemkoong Band Office building.)

Mary Pheasant: Hopefully this place will help plant a lot of seeds in people’s minds.

(Visual: Mary Pheasant outside, standing in front of water, interview.)

Visual: Mary Pheasant
Shelter Manager)

Mary Pheasant: So- and that desire. To know that somebody cares, sometimes that’s all that somebody needs, is to know that somebody cares, and that’ll make a big difference in their life.

(Visual: Empty grassy field, sign for the Wiikwemkoong Shelter for Victims of Violence.)

Mary Jo Wabano: Providing that safe place where they can reconnect with self, reconnect with their children.

(Visual: Mary Jo Wabano, sitting in front of stack of wood, interview.)

(Visual:Mary Jo Wabano
Health Services Director)

Mary Jo Wabano: And then once they exit the facility and go back to their home, that they’re reconnecting with their family again.

(Visual: Cars driving on road past wooden Wiikwemkoong welcome sign, trees showing fall colours, houses visible through trees.)

Mary Jo Wabano: Holistic well being is not just the focus on the woman and the child, it’s the focus on that man also.

(Visual: Kids playing in fenced in field)
(Visual: View passing by, driving past rows of houses, cars parked in front)

Mary Jo Wabano: And again, now we know men are in the position where they may need that place to go with their children.

(Visual: Mary Jo Wabano and Mary Pheasant stand in grassy field near Wiikwemkoong Shelter for Victims of Violence sign.)

Mary Jo Wabano: We have been approved for 13 bedrooms, with a maximum capacity of 17 individuals.

(Visual: Mary Jo Wabano and Mary Pheasant walk in field near Wiikwemkoong Shelter for Victims of Violence sign, talking to each other.)

Mary Jo Wabano: In one wing we will be able to support the youth, so we’ve separated the youth component.

(Visual: Mary Jo Wabano, sitting in front of stacks of logs, interview.)

Mary Jo Wabano: And the opposite wing will be designated for families.

(Visual: Mary Jo Wabano and Mary Pheasant walk in grassy field near Wiikwemkoong Shelter for Victims of Violence sign, talking to each other.)
(Visual: Mary Pheasant outside, in front of water, interview.)

Mary Pheasant: In using our culture, and our philosophies, and our ceremonies, and our ways of restoring, revitalizing, our way of being with a new connection to the land.

(Visual: Shots of a beautiful sculpture depicting birds in flight.)
(Visual: Shots of Indigenous art hanging on wall, sculpture)
(Visual: Duke Peltier, sitting in the Wiikwemkoong Band Office, in a wood panelled room, interview.)

Duke: Just where the very placement of the facility and the selection of the site, you’re gonna be seeing a- a sunrise come over the- the community, over the lake. And that’s what we’re looking to offer to those that are seeking a safe environment.

(Visual: Mary Pheasant and Mary Jo Wabano look over future site of shelter, talking to each other, gesturing at the site in grassy field.)

Duke: There’s- there’s- it’s gonna be a new day. And we’re gonna give them that new day.

(Visual: Scenic shots of trees in foreground, looking out over the water, time lapse, clouds race overhead.)

(Music plays)
(Government of Canada Wordmark, CMHC/SCHL logo, Twitter logo, Linked In logo, Facebook logo, YouTube logo)
(Music ends)
(Fade to black)