PresentationDignity for All: March 2011 Summit

March 3, 2011

Charles W. (Charlie) Hill, Executive Director

March 2011 Summit Ottawa, Ontario

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National Aboriginal Housing AssociationAssociation Nationale d’Habitation Autochtone

Suite 102, 396 MacLaren StreetOttawa ON Canada K2P 0M8

Tel. 613-236-0288 Fax. 613-232-1977

www.aboriginalhousing.org

info@aboriginalhousing.org

March 2011 Summit Ottawa, Ontario

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OVERVIEW OF PRESENTATION

Background: Indigenous Peoples in Canada

Non-Reserve Housing Programs

Who is NAHA?

Key Principles

Current: Federal SupportCurrent Research

Recommendations:

March 2011 Summit Ottawa, Ontario

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INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN CANADA

Three Indigenous Peoples in CA Constitution-1982

“Indians”, Métis and Inuit

“Indians” Now called First Nations

Collectively referred to as “Aboriginal”

First Nations: 55 languages & major dialects; c. 630 “bands”; population about 750,000; 55% off Res

Métis: Michif; population about 500,000

Inuit: Inuktitut; population about 45,000

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NON-RESERVE HOUSING PROGRAMS

• 110 Urban Native Housing Corporations set up in 60s, 70s & 80s;

• Purchase homes; manage and rent to Indigenous peoples at 25% RGI

• CMHC provided subsidies to help mortgage repayment

• Operating agreements vary: 25-30 years• 10,000 units acquired before cap on new projects

(1994)• 9,000 more under Rural & Native Housing

ownership program, in small centres >2,500

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WHO IS NAHA/ANHA?

• NAHA Incorporated 1994 to advocate against cap on subsidies• 1996 – Canada downloaded UNH program to provinces; NAHA

advocated against download• We now also:

Conduct ResearchAdvocate for: Increased Resources National Housing Policy Right to Housing

Better Housing - Better HealthPromote Unity and PartnershipMake Submissions to UN, Senate, etc., on Aboriginal HousingFacilitate Communication and Information TransferConvene National Conferences (For 2011: Regina SK)

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KEY PRINCIPLES

In advocating for improved housing and sufficient resourcesto help reduce or eliminate backlog of required Aboriginalhousing units, NAHA pursues action based on the following

Key Principles:• Aboriginal Control over Aboriginal Housing• Service to all Indigenous persons, regardless of “status” • Culturally-sensitive Service Delivery• Accountability at all levels of Operation• United Effort to Address Aboriginal Housing Issues

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Recent Federal Support

2006: $300 M. Off-Reserve Aboriginal Housing Trust

Based on Per Capita Allocation to Provinces

(One-time Injection of Funds)

Limited Funds, but Very Helpful

Variety of Approaches: Ownership, Rehabilitation

Aboriginal Involvement; Some Consultation

Problems? Program Admin. in Provincial Hands

Insufficient; Short term; Off-Reserve left out after

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Current Research

A Time for Action: A National Plan to AddressAboriginal Housing Using 2006 Census Figures:Compared non-reserve Aboriginal & non-Aboriginal Housing NeedFound for non-reserve Aboriginal renters:• Lower quality dwellings;• More affordability problems• More have greater rent burden• Lower household income• More families in renter population

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OUR NUMBERS

Of the Aboriginal population: 75% live in non-reserve areas (over 50% live in larger urban

centres).

Of these: • 20.4% are in core housing need (12.4% in Mainstream) • 27.5% of those in core need are substandard (versus 15%) • 23% live in crowded dwellings (14%), and • Aboriginal income 20% below national level,• Aboriginal home ownership 20% less than national rate.

Note: 54% of “Status Indians” live off-reserve

March 2011 Summit Ottawa, Ontario

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OUR NUMBERS

Aboriginal Homelessness: Few good figures, but much higher among

Aboriginal peoples Range from: • 15% (Calgary, out of 4,060 persons), • 25-26% (Victoria, Toronto), • 32% (Vancouver) to • 40-45% (Edmonton, Lethbridge)

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Recommendations

That Canada: a) accept the fiduciary responsibility for Aboriginal People,

whether they live on or off reserve and regardless of ancestry (First Nations, Métis or Inuit).

b) extend and make permanent the off-reserve Aboriginal Housing Trust.

• Initially, fund the Trust at $100 M with a graduating scale to reach $386M by the end of year five.

• Appoint a board of Aboriginal Trustees with expertise and experience in assisted and affordable housing to direct the allocation of funds across regions.

c) pass legislation to establish a national housing policy, with a dedicated Aboriginal component

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RECOMMENDATIONS

Help Aboriginal peoples with the following, each year for ten years, to achieve parity:

• Create 1,000 new households; • Create 3,000 dwellings to reduce Aboriginal core

housing need to the 12.5% Canadian average; • Renovate & upgrade 1,000 dwellings;• Create 1,000 Supportive Housing units to reduce

Aboriginal homelessness; • Assist Aboriginal home-owners to buy 4,000 units

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Our Philosophy

“Housing issues are not isolated from poverty, education,

health and employment issues, so a comprehensive housing strategy is not just about housing; it must be about how housing can contribute to other (non-shelter) outcomes, for example, by providing stability to a household: enabling adults to improve education and potential labour market skills, while children also receive a good education to facilitate their future opportunities, enjoy good health (implying good quality housing) and safe environments where parents and children are not victimized by crime and insecurity.”

(A Time for Action: A National Plan to Address Aboriginal Housing; NAHA, 2009)