Cost Analysis of Gaps and Future Housing Needs

Since the completion of AFN’s landmark “Cost Analysis of Current Housing Gaps and Future Housing Needs in First Nations” by the Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy (IFSD) in 2021, AFN has been advocating for significant funds to meet current housing needs and to close the housing gap.

Through this research, AFN identified a need for $60 billion by 2040, which includes $44 billion for current needs and $16 billion for future needs, to bring First Nations housing up to par with the standard of housing that most Canadians experience. This cost estimate will be updated in Fall 2022 to reflect inflation and First Nations population growth. Estimates were partly based on data obtained through AFN’s First Nations On-Reserve Housing and Related Infrastructure Needs study.

Federal investments in First Nations housing and infrastructure must span 25 to 30 years or beyond so that First Nations may adequately plan for the large capital investments required in housing and community infrastructure. AFN continues to advocate for immediate, adequate, and sustained investments for First Nations to advance transformative change and to assume jurisdiction over housing and related infrastructure.

AFN is also advocating that additional housing must be matched by improved community infrastructure. TheHousing and Homelessness Sector is working closely with the AFN Infrastructure Sector on a major initiative to Close the Infrastructure Gap by 2030.

National Homelessness Action Plan

• National First Nations Homelessness Action Plan

In 2019, First Nations-in-Assembly passed Resolution 79/2019, “Action Plan for First Nations Homelessness On and Off-Reserve.” This resolution represented the first time that the AFN had received a mandate to address homelessness impacting First Nations citizens as a specific policy area, and directed the AFN to develop a national First Nations Action Plan in alignment with the National First Nations Housing and Related Infrastructure Strategy.

Following extensive research, engagement and ongoing discussions with First Nations, service providers and government, the National First Nations Homelessness Action Plan was approved by First Nations-in-Assembly in 2023 (Resolution 75/2023). The Action Plan sets out a vision for First Nations-led approaches to addressing homelessness where First Nations control and delivering holistic and culturally safe supports so their citizens can access safe and supportive housing no matter where they live.

In support of this vision, the Action Plan puts forward seven objectives representing key focus areas of the Action Plan, as well as a detailed set of actions and recommendations.

First Nations Jurisdiction: Supporting First Nations control and jurisdiction over the planning, design, governance, management, and delivery of homelessness services and supports.

Prevention: Advocating for closing the housing and infrastructure gap in First Nations communities, and for dedicated resources for First Nations to provide direct supports aimed at preventing homelessness.

Holistic and Culturally Safe Services: Advocating for a holistic approach to addressing First Nations homelessness, including wrap-around service delivery and cultural safety in support of individual and community well-being.

Service Navigation: Advocating for dedicated resources for First Nations to assist their citizens with accessing available programs, services, and housing options.

Partnerships: Supporting partnerships between First Nations, service providers, and all levels of government, recognizing that each First Nation has the right to determine how funding to support their citizens is administered.

Specific Needs: Advocating for services to support the distinct needs of First Nations youth, Elders, people dealing with addictions or in recovery, people transitioning from correctional facilities, women fleeing violence, 2SLGBTQIA+ people, single parent families, and Veterans.

Data Sovereignty: Supporting a First Nations-led and controlled approach to collecting First Nations homelessness data.

• National Homelessness Action Plan Engagement Sessions – Final Report
• NWT Dene Nation Engagement Report on Homelessness

Funding under Canada’s Homelessness Strategy

Among other goals, the National First Nations Homelessness Action Plan seeks to ensure federal homelessness funding is responsive to First Nations needs and priorities. AFN and the Homelessness Policy Directorate at Infrastructure Canada have established a Joint Technical Working Group to guide a process informing the development of the First Nations distinctions-based funding stream of Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy.

Research on First Nations Homelessness

AFN has commissioned research projects to better understand how homelessness impacts First Nations. Findings help to fill information gaps related to First Nations homelessness and identify opportunities to advocate for resources and improve partnerships, service delivery, and coordination. A research summary and fact sheet on these findings related to First Nations homelessness are also available.

To date, the following research projects have been completed:

• A systematic literature review of First Nations homelessness on and off reserve, including First Nations understandings and experiences of homelessness;
• An environmental scan of programs, services, and related systems that support First Nations individuals experiencing homelessness; and
• A systems map of help services, helplines, benefits, and social programs available to First Nations individuals at risk of/experiencing homelessness or a lack of housing options on and off-reserve.

Literature Review

Environmental Scan

Systems Map

Federal Government’s Urban, Rural and Northern Housing Strategy

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) is seeking Indigenous peoples’ input to develop an Urban, Rural and Northern Indigenous Housing (URN) Strategy. The AFN, along with the active involvement of its regions, is working with CMHC to develop a plan to seek First Nations input to be completed no later than June 2023. CMHC has agreed that First Nations will be engaged in a process exclusive to First Nations and that the final URN Strategy document will have a separate section exclusive to First Nations.

The National First Nations Housing and Related infrastructure Strategy recognizes that First Nations want to develop the capacity to be able to provide housing services to all their citizens no matter where they live in Canada. Federal Budget 2022 announced $300 million to fund initiatives associated with the URN Strategy.

The AFN is advocating the full respect and recognition of jurisdiction over housing on behalf of First Nations whose citizens make up the vast majority of Indigenous people who live in urban, rural and northern areas of Canada. AFN’s advocacy includes pressing for AFN co-development of the URN Strategy and any Memorandum to Cabinet on the subject. The AFN also continues to build and develop relationships and networks with urban and rural Indigenous housing and homelessness service providers to ensure that First Nations living away from their communities have equal access to housing.

Support for Dene Nation Housing Transition

The Housing and Homelessness Sector provides support for Dene Nation in their transition to care and control of housing and related infrastructure. Dene Nation has a unique situation where the Federal Government has largely devolved its fiduciary obligation to the Government of the Northwest Territories to provide the Dene people with housing.

Government Transparency and Accountability on First Nations Housing

The Housing and Homelessness Sector supports Chiefs in advocating for increased transparency from the Federal Government and involving First Nations in changes to its First Nations housing and related infrastructure policies, programs, and activities. Resolution 80/2019 refers to events in 2019 where renovation program funding by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation was significantly reduced and the Federal Deep Dive on First Nations Housing On Reserves Report (July 2019) was launched, both without prior knowledge of First Nations.

Resolution 80/2019 calls upon the Federal Government to commit to full transparency at the outset of any initiative or program decision affecting First Nations. It urges the Federal Government to co-develop measures with AFN to remove barriers from its housing and related infrastructure programs. The Housing and Homelessness Sector continues to develop measures to assess transparency performance by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and Indigenous Services Canada, and support Chiefs’ advocacy to remove program barriers.