Canada and Alberta help Blackfoot women start new chapter

Every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. That is why Governments of Canada and Alberta will fund new housing for Blackfoot women who intend to move to Lethbridge from nearby reserves.

This unique project will provide 14 safe and stable housing units for Blackfoot women and their children who are re-locating from the Kainai, Siksika and Piikani reserves.

These homes represent a new start, or a different chapter. Some of these women may be starting new jobs, or attending school. Others may be fleeing difficult circumstances and looking for safety and stability. This housing venture will provide more options for Blackfoot women and their children.

The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and Seniors and Housing Minister Josephine Pon announced the governments of Canada and Alberta will provide $3.4 million for the project. The project will create about 25 jobs.

In Alberta, the funding is provided through the Indigenous Housing Capital Program (IHCP), which supports Indigenous governments and communities to build affordable off-reserve, off-settlement and on-settlement housing. The program ensures a flexible, autonomous approach, and encourages public and private developers to partner with Indigenous governments and organizations.

Federal funding for the IHCP is provided through the 10-year bilateral housing agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta, announced in spring 2019.

IHCP applications are accepted on a continuous basis and are now available at alberta.ca/ihcp. The next quarterly deadline is Sept. 30.

Quotes:

“Through the National Housing Strategy, it is with great pleasure that our Government is supporting this Indigenous-owned housing project in Lethbridge, so that collectively, we are better able to support vulnerable populations with a home that meets their needs. These types of investments in our communities help create new jobs and stimulate the economy, while providing access to safe, affordable homes.”

“The Indigenous Housing Capital Program is intended to support specialized projects like transitional housing for Blackfoot women and their children, who want to move off-reserve and begin new chapters in their lives. Our program is designed to support community-focused projects like this one, and ensure new housing is delivered and owned by, and for, Indigenous peoples.”

“This is a significant step forward in providing additional support to First Nations women and their children. This project will go a long way in providing more options for Blackfoot women who are looking to relocate to Lethbridge. These homes will provide a safe space to live and ensure a smooth transition to a new life in a culturally supportive place. Everyone deserves a safe, affordable and stable place to call home.”

“Blackfoot Family Lodge is very excited about finally having the opportunity to build 14 housing units and securing the resources to provide a beautiful, stable home base for hundreds of Indigenous women in transition to the city of Lethbridge. This will provide them the support and necessary tools to assist them in relocating to the urban setting and having access to affordable housing. This is an opportune time to recognize the intent of truth and reconciliation, the outcome of true collaboration between Indigenous organizations and government agencies to recognize the need of our community members.”

Quick facts:

• Alberta’s Capital Plan 2021 will invest $30 million in IHCP over three years.
• The Alberta government has provided about $31.1 million to 10 projects to date, including the Blackfoot Family Lodge Society:
  • Black Family Lodge Society ($3.4 million, 14 units)
  • Little Red River Cree Nation ($1.3 million, 33 units)
  • Swan River First Nation ($460,000, 17 units)
  • Paul First Nation ($3 million, 24 units) — conditional approval provided Paul First Nation acquires land by Sept. 1, 2021.
  • Edmonton – Tribal Chiefs Ventures Inc. ($6 million, 34 units).
  • Calgary – Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary ($2.3 million, 12 units).
  • Lac Ste. Anne – Lac Ste. Anne Métis Community Association and Communitas Group ($2.6 million, 12 units).
  • Victor Lake – Victor Lake Cooperative and The Evergreens Foundation ($2.2 million, 12 units).
  • Métis Capital Housing Corporation ($7 million, 23 units) — repurposing 10 single-family homes in Edmonton into family housing units.
  • Elizabeth Metis Settlement, near Cold Lake, ($3 million, 10 four-bedroom homes) — this housing will serve Métis families living on settlement.
• Alberta’s Capital Plan 2021 allocates $238 million over three years to provide 1,800 new and regenerated affordable housing units, more than 1,700 jobs and maintain the 26,700 unit provincially owned portfolio.
• About 1,200 new units have been completed in the past two years, of which half were for seniors.
• Alberta’s government accepted all 19 recommendations outlined in the Affordable Housing Review Panel’s final report. The panel identified a clear need to redefine the government’s role and to work with community and private-sector organizations to deliver more value for government spending, including more P3 and mixed-income developments.
• Announced in 2019, the 10-year bilateral agreement between the governments of Canada and Alberta, under the National Housing Strategy (NHS), will invest $678 million to protect, renew and expand social and community housing, and support Alberta’s priorities related to housing repair, construction and affordability.
• Canada's National Housing Strategy (NHS) is a 10-year $72-plus billion plan that will give more Canadians a place to call home.
• The NHS is built on strong partnerships between the federal, provincial and territorial governments, and continuous engagement with others, including municipalities, Indigenous governments and organizations, and the social and private housing sectors. This includes consultations with Canadians from all walks of life, and people with lived experience of housing need.
• All NHS investments delivered by the federal, provincial and territorial governments will respect the key principles of the NHS that support partnerships, people and communities.

Associated links:

As Canada's authority on housing, CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need, and offers unbiased housing research and advice to all levels of Canadian government, consumers and the housing industry. For more information, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook.

To find out more about the National Housing Strategy, visit www.placetocallhome.ca.

The Alberta ministry of Seniors and Housing fosters the development of affordable housing and supports access to housing options for Albertans most in need. The ministry works with seniors, their families and caregivers, Albertans who require housing supports and communities and other government partners. A more detailed description of the ministry and its programs and initiatives can be found at alberta.ca/ministry-seniors-housing.aspx.

Information on this news release:

Mikaela Harrison
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
mikaela.harrison@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

Media Relations
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
media@cmhc-schl.gc.ca

Natalie Tomczak
587-596-8187
Press Secretary, Seniors and Housing