Fort St. John Native Housing Society gets federal funds for Indigenous housing projects 

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The Fort St. John Native Housing Society has been announced as one of the recipients of federal money courtesy of the National Indigenous Collaborative Housing Incorporated (NICHI).

Its website says NICHI exists to “uphold and advance” housing as a human right for Indigenous Peoples living in rural, urban, and northern communities from coast to coast.

Statistics Canada’s 2021 census suggests 171,000 Indigenous peoples in those areas experience housing insecurity. 

According to a news release on November 28th, 16 projects across B.C. have been tapped to receive $26.8 million in funds.

The announcement was delivered in Surrey on Thursday, with NICHI Chief Executive Officer John Gordon and Indigenous Affairs Minister Patty Hajdu presiding over the news.

Gordon says the approved projects reflect “leadership” from Indigenous housing providers in developing solutions and the importance of collaboration, but stresses that more work still needs to be done.

“NICHI is proud to stand with these providers,” said Gordon. “Advocating for the resources and support needed to build a future where everyone has access to safe, culturally grounded housing.”

Through the federal government’s 2022 budget, $277.8 out of a possible $281.5 million was being distributed to around 75 Indigenous projects nationwide through NICHI, via the initiative’s “For Indigenous, By Indigenous” approach.

The government announced last June the funding would be circulated over a two-year period from their “expression of need” process from late November 2023 to early January 2024.

Funding announced on Thursday will go toward the construction of some 3800 units across Canada.