Latest news with #IndigenousHousing
CBC
9 hours ago
- Politics
- CBC
Calgary announces $30M for Indigenous affordable housing project
Social Sharing For the first time, the City of Calgary is launching an Indigenous-led affordable housing project to provide homes for Indigenous people in the city — and it is contributing $30 million to make it happen. Maa'too'maa'taapii Aoko'iyii'piaya, the Blackfoot name for the program, aims to create between 150 and 300 units in what the city calls a "historic investment." Elder Jackie Bromley of Kainai Nation is on the advisory committee, and gifted the name to the program. She called the initiative a symbol of reconciliation in action. "Maa'too'maa'taapii Aoko'iyii'piaya is more than a program. It is a promise," said Bromley. "It is a recognition that Indigenous nations and communities hold the knowledge, the vision and the strength to build homes that honour who we are." "Too often, decisions were made for us, not with us. This program changes that story," she said. Systemic barriers to housing The city says Indigenous people are disproportionately affected by homelessness, making up 41 per cent of the homeless population despite representing only three per cent of Calgary's total population. In the city, 3,800 Indigenous households are currently struggling to afford and keep their housing. Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek was on hand to launch the program Tuesday. She said Indigenous people continue to face systemic barriers when it comes to finding a place to call home. "We have heard that there is discrimination when looking for a home to rent; there is exclusion from culturally safe housing; and there are systemic inequities that perpetuate harm and that keeps intergenerational trauma going, and that keeps families in crisis," Gondek said. The team lead for the city's Indigenous Housing Program, Samantha Efthimiou, said the term "culturally safe" refers to the space and freedom to carry out traditional Indigenous practices, "places where we can smudge without being judged, where we can do ceremony without having questions asked, without being asked permission to have a naming ceremony in our complex." Applications open next week The program is open to all Treaty 7 First Nations, the Otipemisiwak Métis Government Districts 5 & 6 and Indigenous non-profits in Calgary. Organizations chosen for the program can receive up to $150,000 over two years for planning and engagement. The remainder of the $30 million will cover up to 40 per cent of eligible capital costs for the building and construction of the affordable units. Operational costs will not be covered. Those interested can submit funding proposals starting Aug. 25, the same day the city will host a virtual information session. As for a timeline on when the first units could be complete and ready for move-in, the city said that will depend on the project type, but it anticipates the earliest could be the start of 2027. Gondek pointed to the use of modular builds as a way to expedite the process. She said she hopes in the future, the program can grow to create more units than currently planned. "It seems like a small number when you look at the crisis, but for every single person that we can house, that matters. That is a life that has changed," said Gondek.
National Post
26-06-2025
- Business
- National Post
Keewaywin Capital Marks Initial Close of First Indigenous Housing-Focused Private Credit Fund
Article content Initial raise of $10 million to be used to accelerate on- and off-reserve housing projects Article content TORONTO — Keewaywin Capital Inc., an Indigenous-led private credit investment firm focused on housing development for Indigenous communities across Canada, has announced the initial close of its inaugural Fund I, securing more than $10 million in commitments. Article content With commitments from limited private-capital partners including Realize Capital, Rally Assets, Addenda Capital, and the Tachane Foundation, the fund will help launch on-reserve housing and related infrastructure projects in both on- and off-reserve communities. Article content The initial close of Fund I marks the first public-private partnership focused on funding Indigenous housing construction under Canada's newly formed government, which has made addressing the country's broader housing crisis a top priority. Article content Keewaywin Fund I will invest in scalable, community-led housing projects driven by and for Indigenous communities on and off reserve. Initial capital deployments are planned for this summer, with early projects set to include: Article content A modular housing development of up to 30 homes in Northern Manitoba; A CMHC Section 95 project in Central Manitoba. Article content 'Fund I offers private investors a meaningful way to connect with and invest in Indigenous communities, something that hasn't existed in this form in this country before,' says Tracee Smith, founder and CEO of Keewaywin and a member of the Missanabie Cree First Nation. 'With a $44 billion shortfall to meet current housing needs, and another $16 billion required by 2040 to support population growth, it is imperative that governments and the private sector work together to ensure that future generations have the space and infrastructure to remain in and connected to their communities.' Article content 'This fund, led by changemaker Tracee Smith, represents the kind of community-rooted innovation our Impact Fixed Income strategy is designed to support,' says Carl Pelland, Vice-President, Fixed Income, and Head, Corporate and Impact Bonds at Addenda Capital. 'It aligns closely with our community development theme by directing capital toward Indigenous led solutions that recognize housing as a foundation for broader social and economic outcomes.' Article content Pelland adds: 'This investment opportunity represents a promising step toward scalable social impact, delivering value for investors while supporting the economic advancement of Indigenous communities both on- and off-reserve. We're proud to be partnering with Keewaywin Capital on this important initiative.' Article content 'We're glad to contribute to this fund, which represents a much-needed opportunity to help accelerate the delivery of community-driven housing by Indigenous communities, creating long-term value and resilience,' says Lars Boggild, Portfolio Manager, Realize Capital Partners, a wholesaler for the Government of Canada's Social Finance Fund. Realize Capital is powered by Rally Assets. Article content Keewaywin Capital anticipates full commitment of the proceeds raised for Fund I by the end of 2025. The firm is exploring additional potential projects that, pending scale, would seek to deploy additional capital and resources in 2026. Article content About Keewaywin Capital Inc. Article content Keewaywin Capital Inc. is a 100% Indigenous-owned private credit investment fund focused on dedicated housing development for Indigenous communities across Canada. The firm provides short-term construction loans to accelerate Indigenous-led development, and works in close partnership with community leaders, government agencies, and private capital to deliver sustainable housing solutions that best suit individual Indigenous communities. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
CTV News
24-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
City formalizes commitment to supporting Indigenous-led housing with Treaty 8
Grand Chief of Treaty 8 of Alberta Trevor Mercredi speaks at an emergency meeting of Treaty Chiefs on Alberta separation on May 6, 2025. (CTV News Calgary) Edmonton mayor Amarjeet Sohi and Treaty 8 Grand Chief Trevor Mercredi signed a letter of intent formalizing their shared commitment to supporting Indigenous-led affordable housing in the city. 'By signing this letter of intent with the City of Edmonton, we are advancing First Nations-led housing that reflects the culture, values, rights and aspirations of Treaty 8 First Nations,' said Mercredi in a statement Tuesday. The agreement was initiated by Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta and sets out shared objectives for advocacy, planning and support for culturally appropriate housing projects. The letter of intent outlines shared objectives including joint advocacy to other orders of government for funding and policy support; a coordinated approach to increase the supply of Indigenous-led housing in Edmonton; and recognition of the leadership of Treaty 8 in addressing the housing needs of their citizens. 'Edmonton is home to thousands of Treaty 8 members, and we recognize the housing crisis disproportionately affects Indigenous peoples,' said Krystin Flierl, director of the city's Indigenous Relations Office. 'Working together, we are calling on all levels of government to invest in Indigenous-led solutions—because reconciliation demands action.' Edmonton has the second-largest urban Indigenous population in Canada with nearly 88,000 Indigenous residents. More than half of those experiencing homelessness in the city identify as Indigenous. The city has implemented an Indigenous-led housing stream within the Affordable Housing Investment Program (AHIP) that offers grants of up to 40 per cent of capital costs for qualifying projects. Last year, $8.3 million in AHIP grants were approved by council for Indigenous-led housing developments. The city has also created an Indigenous Housing Liaison position to support Indigenous organizations and navigate government requirements.
CBC
26-05-2025
- General
- CBC
First Indigenous-led housing project in Toronto will support needs of elders, chief says
Social Sharing The first Indigenous-led rental housing project in Toronto will provide a nurturing environment for elders and respect cultural traditions, said the chief of the Missanabie Cree First Nation on Monday. The nation, which has its own development company, is the driving force behind the project at 140 Merton St., near Yonge Street and Davisville Avenue. Once complete, the building will be the first city-owned property to be leased and operated exclusively by an Indigenous organization and not-for-profit entity, the City of Toronto said in a news release Monday. "Our elders are the keepers of our stories, languages and traditions," Chief Jason Gauthier told reporters shortly after a blessing ceremony at the site. "Providing them with a safe, respectful and holistic environment is not just a responsibility, it's a duty." The building will feature 294 residential units for Indigenous elders and non-Indigenous seniors, with approximately a third of these units being designated as affordable housing, the city said in a news release. It was not clear at Monday's event how many units will be reserved for Indigenous elders. CBC Toronto has reached out to the city for clarification. Gauthier led Monday's ceremony alongside members of the Missanabie Cree First Nation and city staff. The event was held to celebrate the completion of the project's financing. The building will eventually be 29 storeys tall, according to city documents posted online. It will include a ceremonial space, smudging room and indoor and outdoor communal areas, Gauthier said. "For over a century, our people have navigated the challenges of displacement and the long road towards reclaiming our rightful place within these lands," he said. "Today we take a significant step towards that journey." Construction is expected to begin in late summer or early fall, said Doug Rollins, the city's director of housing stability services. It may take around two years before residents begin moving in, he said. Rollins said financing to date has been from the federal government, but the city is continuing to look for partnerships. Existing tenants will be accommodated, city says Currently, 140 Merton St. is home to a two-storey building that is being used as a senior care centre. The city said the new building will include 2,150 square metres of community space to be subleased back to the city to accommodate the existing tenants. Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik said the project is part of the city's efforts to address the affordable housing crisis but is also a way for the city to "honour our commitments to truth, justice and reconciliation." "We know all too well that Indigenous communities are disproportionately affected by the housing crisis, which is why we are grateful to be partnering with Indigenous housing providers," she said. A Statistics Canada report from 2021 found that many Indigenous people in Canada live in "inadequate housing," particularly those living in remote or northern communities. More than one in six Indigenous people lived in crowded housing considered not suitable for the number of people living there, the report said. Its authors also found Indigenous people were almost three times more likely to live in a dwelling in need of major repairs than the non-Indigenous population in 2021.
