SKIDEGATE, BC, July 22,
2024 /CNW/ - Skidegate Band Council Elders and
families now have access to 24 affordable homes with the opening of
a new, on-reserve rental complex.
Located at 848 Highway 16 in Skidegate, Haida Gwaii, the building is a
two-story complex that is adjacent to the Skidegate Wellness
Centre, providing tenants with direct access to culturally
appropriate services. The building will also feature Haida art
representing two Haida Clans, Raven and Eagle, in celebration of
Haida culture. The homes include a mix of one- and two-bedroom
units, both of which include a den, with rents geared to
income.
In addition to thorough community engagement, the Skidegate Band
Council was actively involved in the design of the new building,
which emphasizes traditional communal living.
The new homes are the result of a partnership between the
federal government, through the Canada Mortgage and Housing
Corporation and Indigenous Services Canada, the Province, through
BC Housing, the Skidegate Band Council, and the newly created
Xaayda Naay Haida House Society, which will operate the
building.
Funding provided for this project is as follows:
- $5 million from the provincial
government, through the Building BC: Indigenous Housing Fund and is
providing approximately $420,000 in
annual operating funding
- $1.4 million from the federal
government, through Indigenous Services Canada's British Columbia
Housing Support Program
- $2 million of joint funding
through Canada-British Columbia Bilateral Agreement under the
National Housing Strategy
Quotes:
"We are incredibly proud to partner with the Skidegate
First Nation on this project that will provide more Elders and
families with a safe and affordable place to call home along with
services that honour their traditions. We will always be there to
support these kinds of projects that support Indigenous Peoples and
that can transform communities for generations to come." –The
Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure
and Communities
"This project is showing the entire country what can be
accomplished when First Nations lead the way, and all levels of
government are there to support them. This project is providing
safe and sustainable housing for the community, while the design
highlights the importance of the raven and eagle in Haida
culture." –The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous
Services
"True reconciliation revolves around action. By utilizing the
knowledge and expertise of the Skidegate Band Council, new and
affordable homes are opening for families of the Skidegate First
Nation. Partnerships like this show how governments can work
together to solve the housing crisis and, in turn, ensure the
well-being of Indigenous Peoples across the province." –
Ravi Kahlon, B.C.'s Minister of
Housing.
"For too long, colonial governments have provided not only
substandard housing for First Nations people but utilized a generic
housing template regardless of if it made sense for the local
geography, weather, or people. With the Skidegate Band
Council's creative vision, these new affordable homes highlight our
collective ability to create beautiful and connected communities
where families can truly thrive. I extend my heartfelt thanks to
all the project partners for their dedicated collaboration, making
this project a new type of culturally appropriate blueprint for
future developments in our province." –
Jennifer Rice, Member of the
Legislative Assembly for North Coast
"The Xaayda Naay 24-plex will provide much-needed
affordable housing to help our growing population. I'm happy this
project is complete so we can welcome Elders and families home into
a warm, inviting space built on a strong cultural foundation. The
complex also meets a major goal to increase housing stock and build
more homes. With Xaayda Naay, we strengthen our community and
improve quality of life, with help from BC Housing and Indigenous
Services Canada." – Billy
Yovanovich, Chief Councillor, Skidegate Band Council
"The new two-storey complex will provide much-needed affordable
housing to meet the needs of our growing population. We are happy
this project is complete because, with it, we can welcome Elders
and families 'home' into a warm, inviting space built on a strong
cultural foundation." – Skidegate Band Council.
Quick facts:
- The National Housing Strategy is an $82+ billion plan to give
more Canadians a place to call home. Progress on programs and
initiatives are updated quarterly at www.placetocallhome.ca. The
Housing Funding Initiatives Map shows affordable housing projects
that have been developed.
- NHS is built on strong partnerships between the federal,
provincial, and territorial governments, and continuous engagement
with others, including municipalities, Indigenous governments and
organizations, and the social and private housing sectors. This
includes consultations with Canadians from all walks of life, and
people with lived experience of housing need.
- All NHS investments delivered by the federal, provincial, and
territorial governments will respect the key principles of NHS that
support partnerships, people, and communities.
- As of March 2024, the federal
government has committed $50.97
billion to support the creation of over 146,000 units and
the repair of over 286,000 units These measures prioritize those in
greatest need, including seniors, Indigenous Peoples, people
experiencing or at risk of homelessness, and women and children
fleeing violence.Indigenous Services Canada's Housing Support
Program in British Columbia
provided $65.5 million in funding in
2023-2024 for the construction or renovation of 671 housing units
in First Nation communities in British
Columbia.
- This project is part of a $19-billion housing investment by the B.C.
government. Since 2017, the Province has nearly 78,000 homes that
have been delivered or underway including nearly 400 homes on the
north coast. Through the Province's Building BC: Indigenous Housing
Fund, including these homes in Skidegate, approximately 1,565 homes have
opened, are under construction or in development in B.C. since
2018.
- The Province's Indigenous Housing Fund is a $1.7-billion investment to build 3,500 new homes
for Indigenous Peoples, on and off reserve.
Additional Information:
- Visit Canada.ca/housing for the most requested Government of
Canada housing information.
- CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and
financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need,
and offers unbiased housing research and advice to all levels of
Canadian government, consumers and the housing industry. CMHC's aim
is that everyone in Canada has a
home they can afford and that meets their needs. For more
information, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and
Facebook.
- To find out more about the National Housing Strategy, please
visit www.placetocallhome.ca.
- To learn how Indigenous Services Canada helps First Nations
provide sustainable housing on reserve, visit:
https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1100100010715/1521125087940.
- To learn about B.C.'s new Homes for People action plan, visit:
https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023HOUS0019-000436
- To learn about the steps the Province is taking to tackle the
housing crisis and deliver affordable homes for British Columbians,
visit: https://strongerbc.gov.bc.ca/housing/
SOURCE Government of Canada