Alberta and Ottawa put $13M into Indigenous housing projects across the province
CBC/Radio-Canada
© Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Cameron Alexis, the CEO of Tribal Chiefs Ventures, pictured above, says the project will help Indigenous people find affordable homes.
The provincial and federal governments are committing $13.1 million for Indigenous housing projects in several cities and towns across Alberta.
In Edmonton, a 34-unit building will be purchased for Indigenous affordable housing. While in Calgary, Lac Ste. Anne and Victor Lake, Alta., which is near Grande Cache, 36 senior housing units will be built.
The province says all of the affordable housing units will be designed, delivered and owned by Indigenous peoples.
"This means that over 100 Indigenous families across the province of Alberta will have a new place to call home," said Ahmed Hussen, the Minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
"We're committed to addressing the barriers faced by Indigenous communities every single day and it starts [with] ensuring that the solutions for the community are provided by the community."
He adds that the project will create around 100 jobs.
"Our targeted investment will not only stimulate the economy and create well-paying jobs where they are needed the most, they will also ensure the needs of Indigenous families … are met," he said.
Cameron Alexis, the CEO of Tribal Chiefs Ventures, says this initiative will help Indigenous people find alternate housing solutions.
"Just recently we visited the downtown core of Edmonton and it is really painful to see our people on the streets. When we saw that, our chiefs signalled that we have to do something," he said.
"Collectively, we worked hard with the respective governments to do our part."
Alexis says the project is just the "beginning.
Edmonton to see new affordable housing project with funding from province, federal government
The provincial and federal governments are committing $13.1 million for Indigenous housing projects in several cities and towns across Alberta.
In Edmonton, a 34-unit building will be purchased for Indigenous affordable housing. While in Calgary, Lac Ste. Anne and Victor Lake, Alta., which is near Grande Cache, 36 senior housing units will be built.
The province says all of the affordable housing units will be designed, delivered and owned by Indigenous peoples.
"This means that over 100 Indigenous families across the province of Alberta will have a new place to call home," said Ahmed Hussen, the Minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
"We're committed to addressing the barriers faced by Indigenous communities every single day and it starts [with] ensuring that the solutions for the community are provided by the community."
He adds that the project will create around 100 jobs.
"Our targeted investment will not only stimulate the economy and create well-paying jobs where they are needed the most, they will also ensure the needs of Indigenous families … are met," he said.
Cameron Alexis, the CEO of Tribal Chiefs Ventures, says this initiative will help Indigenous people find alternate housing solutions.
"Just recently we visited the downtown core of Edmonton and it is really painful to see our people on the streets. When we saw that, our chiefs signalled that we have to do something," he said.
"Collectively, we worked hard with the respective governments to do our part."
Alexis says the project is just the "beginning.
Edmonton to see new affordable housing project with funding from province, federal government
Ashley Joannou 2 hrs ago
Indigenous Relations Minister Rick Wilson, right, dances a Métis jig with Seniors and Housing Minister Josephine Pon, centre, and Métis Nation of Alberta President Audrey Poitras, left, during a tour of a Métis Capital Housing Corporation affordable housing project at 13027 133 St., in Edmonton Wednesday Sept. 2, 2020. Photo by David Bloom
A 34-unit building in northwest Edmonton will be purchased and turned into affordable housing in part with funding from the federal and provincial governments.
A total of $13.1 million in grants, provided through the Indigenous Housing Capital Program, will go towards that project as well as building 12 seniors housing units each in Calgary, Lac Ste. Anne and Victor Lake, near Grande Cache.
The four Indigenous-owned projects were announced by Alberta Seniors and Housing Minister Josephine Pon and Federal Families, Children and Social Development Minister Ahmed Hussen Tuesday as well as representatives from Tribal Chiefs Ventures Inc. which will own the Edmonton building.
“We know that every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home but far too many are forced to make the impossible choice between paying rent and buying groceries,” Hussen said.
The Edmonton project received $6 million of the funding. The Calgary units received $2.3 million and will be owned by the Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary. Victor Lake Cooperative and The Evergreens Foundation received $2.2 million for their 12 units and Lac Ste. Anne Metis Community Association and Communitas Group received $2.6 million for their 12 units
Okimaw Vernon Watchmaker the chair of Tribal Chiefs Ventures Inc. said he was hoping for a groundbreaking of the Edmonton building in June, depending on COVID-19 restrictions.
“I’m looking forward to the first of many more commitments towards addressing long standing issues of affordable housing for TCVI nations within Treaty Six territory,” he said.
First Nations governments in the areas also contributed 10 to 50 per cent equity to the projects, Pon’s press secretary Natalie Tomczak said in an email.
“Some of these projects will set rents at 30 per cent of income, while others will be a mixed market model, in which some units are rented for market rates, which helps subsidize lower rents in other units,” she said.
The projects are expected to create about 100 jobs.
The money for the grants, split 50/50 between the federal and provincial governments, comes as part of 10-year bilateral housing agreement between the two.
A 34-unit building in northwest Edmonton will be purchased and turned into affordable housing in part with funding from the federal and provincial governments.
A total of $13.1 million in grants, provided through the Indigenous Housing Capital Program, will go towards that project as well as building 12 seniors housing units each in Calgary, Lac Ste. Anne and Victor Lake, near Grande Cache.
The four Indigenous-owned projects were announced by Alberta Seniors and Housing Minister Josephine Pon and Federal Families, Children and Social Development Minister Ahmed Hussen Tuesday as well as representatives from Tribal Chiefs Ventures Inc. which will own the Edmonton building.
“We know that every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home but far too many are forced to make the impossible choice between paying rent and buying groceries,” Hussen said.
The Edmonton project received $6 million of the funding. The Calgary units received $2.3 million and will be owned by the Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary. Victor Lake Cooperative and The Evergreens Foundation received $2.2 million for their 12 units and Lac Ste. Anne Metis Community Association and Communitas Group received $2.6 million for their 12 units
Okimaw Vernon Watchmaker the chair of Tribal Chiefs Ventures Inc. said he was hoping for a groundbreaking of the Edmonton building in June, depending on COVID-19 restrictions.
“I’m looking forward to the first of many more commitments towards addressing long standing issues of affordable housing for TCVI nations within Treaty Six territory,” he said.
First Nations governments in the areas also contributed 10 to 50 per cent equity to the projects, Pon’s press secretary Natalie Tomczak said in an email.
“Some of these projects will set rents at 30 per cent of income, while others will be a mixed market model, in which some units are rented for market rates, which helps subsidize lower rents in other units,” she said.
The projects are expected to create about 100 jobs.
The money for the grants, split 50/50 between the federal and provincial governments, comes as part of 10-year bilateral housing agreement between the two.
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