Today, Terry Sheehan, Member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie, announced funding of nearly $14,825,000 million to help support the predevelopment process of nine indigenous housing projects by the Sault-based Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services (OAHS) over a 3-year period.
This is part of an investment of over of $96 million from Housing, Infrastructure, and Communities Canada’s Affordable Housing Innovation Fund, announced last month by Minister Nathaniel Erskine-Smith’s, which will support seven innovative organizations to build more than 3,600 new units across Ontario, including this pre-development funding to OAHS.
This funding to OAHS will go toward developing 593 units in seven Ontario communities. Here in Sault Ste. Marie, this will include $750,000 towards a 30-bed facility, with construction scheduled to begin in May. This 24/7 supportive housing facility will provide critical services for Indigenous men experiencing chronic homelessness.
This project aims to tackle the housing crisis among Urban Indigenous communities. Its approach centers on the concept of “For Indigenous, by Indigenous” ensuring that Indigenous communities have a direct say in the type of housing and building design, including the necessary amenities to support tenants. It incorporates both financial and social innovation to drive meaningful changes and will allow for rapid and large-scale deployment of funding for simultaneous project initiations and help overcome initial predevelopment hurdles.
The Affordable Housing Innovation Fund supports new ideas that drive change and disrupt the industry, including designs and approaches that will evolve the affordable housing sector and create the next generation of housing in Canada.
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“Our government is committed to rethinking the way we approach affordable housing solutions. This investment of over $14.8 million through the Affordable Housing Innovation Fund is a testament to this commitment. It will not only enable the creation of new homes across Canada, but more importantly, it will drive the discovery of new solutions in the housing industry. We believe that these innovative approaches will not only transform the housing landscape but also create lasting impacts for families and communities across the nation.”
– Terry Sheehan, Member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labour and Seniors
“On behalf of the OAHS, chi miigwetch to the Government of Canada and CMHC for this vital investment in Indigenous housing. This $14.8 million in funding strengthens OAHS’s ability to provide safe, affordable, and culturally appropriate housing for Indigenous people across Ontario. Addressing the housing crisis requires strong partnerships between Indigenous organizations and all levels of government, and we are committed to working together to create lasting solutions for Indigenous communities across the province”
– Armand Jourdain Sr., OAHS Board Director & President of the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres
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