The B.C. government is pledging $550 million over 10 years to finance new housing construction of housing for Indigenous people on and off reserve.
Premier John Horgan announced the new fund Monday in Prince George, joined by Chief Terry Teegee, Assembly of First Nations regional chief for B.C., Chief Dominic Frederick of the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation, and B.C. Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Selina Robinson.
Horgan says it’s been too long since the federal government made significant moves to address the housing shortage on reserves, and B.C.’s new fund is expected to “accelerate” change and encourage Ottawa to do its share.
“The federal government is primarily responsible for housing on reserve, and as many of the speakers have said, it’s been several decades since any meaningful investment has been made,” Horgan says.
“The current government has talked about building programs, and we want to accelerate that.”
Teegee notes that Horgan’s trip goes next to the Takla Lake First Nation north of Prince George, and other communities are suffering from a long-term housing shortage.
Takla Lake currently has a request for 60 homes with Ottawa, and the Nak’azdli community near Fort St. James and others in the region need more than 100 houses each, Teegee says.
First Nations groups near Quesnel are also experiencing a housing shortage.
“The lack of housing is a major concern in the City of Quesnel and on our reserve. We have six-plex going up right now [on the reserve], but we have a long list of people,” says Megan Burns, Lhtako Dené Nation (Red Bluff)’s housing co-ordinator.
Burns says Lhtako Dené plans to apply to access some of the $550 million the province has pledged.
“Affordability is an issue, but it’s also just hard to find a place in Quesnel to rent. A lot of people are saying it’s hard to find a good place to rent.”
Burns says she hopes some of the funding could also go towards temporary homes for women fleeing abuse, so they don’t end up in a shelter.
“It would be nice to see a place for women fleeing abusive relationships… instead of women uprooting their kids from an abusive situation to a shelter situation. From one tragedy to another,” she explains.
Robinson says B.C. Housing has put out a request for proposals for funding partners to get projects going and deal with the “absolutely unacceptable” state of housing on and off reserve.
“It makes no difference if the housing need is on or off reserve,” Robinson says. “It is incumbent upon us as a government that cares about people that we are there to help British Columbians when they need it.
“Regardless of who has jurisdiction, it is all about the right thing to do.”
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