Horizontal Initiative - Support for Indigenous Housing
Table of contents
General information
Name of horizontal initiative: Support for Indigenous Housing (SIH)
Lead department: Indigenous Services Canada (ISC)
Federal partner department: Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC)
Start date of the horizontal initiative: 2022–2023
End date of the horizontal initiative: 2028–2029
Description of the horizontal initiative: Access to safe, adequate, affordable, and culturally appropriate housing is essential to the health and well-being of all Canadians. Canada has recognized the right to adequate housing as a fundamental human right affirmed in international law, as stated in s. 4(a) of the National Housing Strategy Act, S.C. 2019, c. 29, s. 313. However, Indigenous peoples in Canada are experiencing a well-known and long-lasting housing shortage. Aging and inadequate housing, and the absence of critical infrastructure in Indigenous communities, especially in northern Indigenous communities, has had ongoing negative consequences for social, health, and economic outcomes. Investing in housing improves quality of life, narrows socio-economic gaps and increases Indigenous participation in the economy. With that in mind, the Government of Canada has committed to closing the infrastructure gap (including housing) that exists between Indigenous peoples and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada by 2030.
Departments reporting under this Horizontal Initiative will report annually, through the horizontal initiative section of the supplementary tables included in ISC's Departmental Plan (DP) and Departmental Results Report (DRR), where results and financial information will be provided (planned and actuals), as well as within the main body of their own DP and DRR.
ISC will lead horizontal work to report on results achieved under the Support for Indigenous Housing Horizontal Initiative for the first 5 years (2022-2023 to 2026-2027). After this time, should ISC no longer have funding that is subject to this initiative, responsibility for reporting on remaining years of investments (2027-2028 and 2028-2029) will shift to another partner department to maintain integrity of the overall initiative.
Governance structures: Central to the governance structure of the horizontal housing initiative is the senior-level Oversight Committee which will comprise of Assistant Deputy Ministers from ISC and CIRNAC. The Oversight Committee is responsible for the overall governance and coordination of the Horizontal Housing Initiative, including ensuring that reporting is timely and accurate. The Oversight Committee will be supported by a Director General Steering Committee (DGSC) that addresses operational, implementation or technical issues identified by the working group. A horizontal working group composed of officials from ISC and CIRNAC will convene regularly to discuss the advancement of the initiative, ensure general alignment of approaches, highlight any challenges that arise, and propose solutions for the consideration of the DGSC. The governance structure is supported by resources from within ISC's Regional Operations Sector. Terms of Reference for each level of the governance structure will outline the composition and respective roles of each group.
Total federal funding allocated (from start to end date) (dollars): $4,000,806,772
Total federal planned spending to date (dollars): $638,249,183
Total federal actual spending to date (dollars): $637,500,412
Date of last renewal of the horizontal initiative: Not applicable
Total federal funding allocated at last renewal, and source of funding (dollars): Not applicable
Additional federal funding received after the last renewal (dollars): Not applicable
Total planned spending since the last renewal: Not applicable
Total actual spending since the last renewal: Not applicable
Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation: Not applicable
Performance highlights:
ISC:
Budget 2022 investments in First Nations on-reserve housing demonstrate the Government of Canada's commitment to addressing housing needs. Once Budget 2022 funds were released ISC regional offices worked to flow housing funds to communities and partners quickly once funds were released in the summer of 2022.
As of March 31, 2023, Budget 2022 funding has supported housing ongoing and completed projects across the country through:
- 75 new unit construction projects
- 147 unit renovation and upgrade projects
- 373 capacity development and innovation projects
- 50 lot servicing or lot acquisition projects
- 2 projects towards subdivisions and subdivision extensions.
CIRNAC:
Funding supports for Métis housing for Métis Governments -i.e. Métis Nation British Columbia, Métis Nation Alberta, Métis Nation-Saskatchewan, and Métis Nation of Ontario, as well as the Manitoba Métis Federation and the Métis Settlements General Council to address Métis housing priorities, takes a concrete step towards fulfilling the Government of Canada's commitments to Métis and other Indigenous partners. This funding advances reconciliation by supporting the evolving Crown-Métis Nation relationship.
Identified Métis housing priorities addressed fall into broad categories such as:
- existing renovations and retrofits
- subsidies for affordable housing
- new builds to account for homelessness, persons with disabilities, those with mental health problems and addictions, victims of domestic violence, veterans, seniors and youth
The overall risk of accessing this funding is low as work is already well advanced to reduce the housing needs gap of the respective Métis housing authorities using effective and culturally appropriate methods to reduce the housing need gap.
Based on the Inuit determined funding allocations, CIRNAC has provided the 2022-2023 annual funding allocations to each Inuit Treaty Organization and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami to enable them to implement housing initiatives in their communities and to support the implementation of the Inuit Nunangat Housing Strategy.
In addition, upon receipt of action plans from Self-Governing and Modern Treaty First Nations, CIRNAC has provided annual funding allocations to each partner to enable them to implement housing initiatives in their communities.
CIRNAC also provided funding to address housing needs in the Northwest Territories. Each funding recipients have in place multi-year housing plans and multi-year funding agreements to ensure that there is no break in funding. This is critical given the short northern construction season and the need to ensure that supply orders are placed in a timely manner to ensure materials are sourced and delivered. In 2022-2023, funding recipients further enhanced their respective action plans and in some instances engaged in rehabilitating their existing housing structures, as well as undertaking the groundwork necessary for new housing construction i.e. site development. The funding profile for these communities is for seven years. However, given that these communities had not received any housing-related /infrastructure funding prior to Budget 2021, the needs are great, as such, the greatest risk is not being able to flow the required amount per community to address their respective housing and housing infrastructure related needs.
CIRNAC will start reporting on results in 2023-2024.
Contact information:
Indigenous Services Canada
Rory O'Connor
Director General, Regional Infrastructure Delivery Branch
Telephone: 902-402-6002
Email address: rory.oconnor@sac-isc.gc.ca
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
Kate Ledgerwood
Director General, Reconciliation Secretariat
Telephone: 613-922-8591
Email address: kate.ledgerwood@rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca
Dionne Savill
Director General, Implementation Branch
Telephone: 867-334-8563
Email address: dionne.savill@rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca
Matt Spence
Regional Director General (Northwest Territories Region)
Telephone: 867-669-2500
Email address: matt.spence@rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca
Shared outcome
The Government of Canada is committed to enhancing support for Indigenous, distinctions-based housing delivery to accelerate progress and enhance self-determination. With that in mind, the support for Indigenous Housing Horizontal Initiative reflects on two overarching objectives:
- Address Housing Infrastructure Gaps: Direct investments will help address communities' self-determined housing needs, including construction of new homes, purchase of existing homes, renovation or repair of existing homes, lot servicing and subdivision development.
- Governance and Institutional Capacity to Support Indigenous Housing Improvements: Investments in community capacity to plan for new housing development and community growth, manage existing and new homes, and plan for replacement at the end of their lifespan, is essential to lasting change.
| Name of the theme | Theme A: Housing Infrastructure | Theme B: Governance and Institutional Capacity to support Indigenous Housing Improvements | Internal Services |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theme outcomes | Availability of housing for Indigenous Peoples is improved | Indigenous communities advance their capacity to govern housing programs and services | Not applicable |
| Indigenous Services Canada | $2,139,846,760Table note 1 | $235,157,900Table note 1 | $25,495,340 |
| Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada | $975,509,543Table note 2 | $622,946,277Table note 3 | $1,850,954 |
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Performance information
Horizontal initiative overview
Name of horizontal initiative: Support for Indigenous Housing
Total federal funding, including legacy funding, allocated since the last renewalFootnote * : $4,000,806,772
2022-2023 Planned spending: $638,249,183
2022-2023 Actual spending: $637,500,412
| Horizontal initiative shared outcomes | Performance indicators | Targets | Date to achieve target | 2022-2023 Actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Improved housing for Indigenous Peoples | Percentage of First Nation housing on reserve that is adequate, as assessed and reported by First Nations | 75% | March 31, 2025 | The data for 2022–2023 will be available April 2024. |
| Core housing needTable note 1 for Indigenous Peoples | 9%Table note 2 | March 31, 2031 | The data will be available with Census 2026. | |
| The housing need gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples is reduced | Percentage of difference in core housing needTable note 1 between Indigenous and non-Indigenous households | 4%Table note 2 | March 31, 2031 | The data will be available with Census 2026. |
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Theme horizontal initiative activities
Theme A details
Name of theme: Housing Infrastructure
Total federal theme funding, including legacy funding, allocated since the last renewalFootnote * : $3,141,717,622
2022-2023 Federal theme planned spending: $538,828,028
2022-2023 Federal theme actual spending: $554,274,054
| Theme outcome | Theme performance indicators | Theme targets | Date to achieve theme target | 2022-2023 Actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Availability of housing for Indigenous Peoples is improved | Percentage of First Nation households on reserve living in a dwelling that contains more than one person per room (measure of overcrowding) | 10.7%Table note 1 | March 31, 2026 | The data will be available with Census 2026. |
| Percentage of Inuit housing construction needs that were addressed | To be established by January 2024, following completion of Inuit needs assessments | March 31, 2029 | Not applicable | |
| Percentage of Inuit housing repair/renovation needs that were addressed | To be established by January 2024, following completion of Inuit needs assessments | March 31, 2029 | Not applicable | |
| Percentage of Métis housing construction/purchase needs that were addressed | To be established by January 2024, following completion of Governing Member needs assessments | March 31, 2029 | Not applicable | |
| Percentage of Métis housing repair/renovation needs that were addressed | To be established by January 2024, following completion of Governing Member needs assessments | March 31, 2029 | Not applicable | |
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Theme A horizontal initiative activities
Indigenous Services Canada
Link to the department's Program Inventory: Community Infrastructure
Horizontal initiative (HI) activities: Infrastructure investments to support housing on reserve
Total federal funding, including legacy funding, allocated to each horizontal initiative activity since the last renewalFootnote * : $2,165,342,100
2022-2023 Planned spending for each horizontal activity: $148,103,400
2022-2023 Actual spending for each horizontal initiative activity: $163,549,426
| 2022–2023 Horizontal initiative activity expected result | 2022–2023 Horizontal initiative activity performance indicators | 2022–2023 Horizontal initiative activity targets | Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity target | 2022-2023 Actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Nation communities have suitable and adequate housing | Number of First Nation housing units on reserve built or acquired as a result of housing funding | 5,100 new units built or acquired | March 31, 2027 | 5 new units built or acquiredTable note 1 |
| Number of First Nation housing units on reserve renovated as a result of housing funding | 3,800 units renovated | March 31, 2027 | 9 units renovatedTable note 2 | |
| Number of housing lots serviced as a result of housing funding | 2,100 lots serviced | March 31, 2027 | 13 lots servicedTable note 3 | |
| Number of extensions to existing subdivisions as a result of housing funding | 8 extensions to existing subdivisions | March 31, 2024 | 0Table note 4 | |
| Number of new housing subdivisions as a result of housing funding | 4 new subdivisions | March 31, 2024 | 0 | |
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Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
Link to the department's Program Inventory: Indigenous-Led Services
Horizontal initiative (HI) activities: Housing infrastructure investments for Inuit land claim organizations
Total federal funding, including legacy funding, allocated to each horizontal initiative activity since the last renewalFootnote * : $845,100,000
2022-2023 Planned spending for each horizontal activity: $386,500,000
2022-2023 Actual spending for each horizontal initiative activity: $386,500,000
| 2022–2023 Horizontal initiative activity expected result | 2022–2023 Horizontal initiative activity performance indicators | 2022–2023 Horizontal initiative activity targets | Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity target | 2022-2023 Actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inuit communities have suitable and adequate housing | Number of Inuit housing units constructed | 90 | March 31, 2024 | Not applicableTable note 1 |
| Number of Inuit housing units repaired/renovated | 60 | March 31, 2024 | Not applicableTable note 1 | |
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Link to the department's Program Inventory: Indigenous-Led Services
Horizontal initiative (HI) activities: Housing infrastructure investments for Métis Nation, Manitoba Métis Federation and Métis Settlements
Total federal funding, including legacy funding, allocated to each horizontal initiative activity since the last renewalFootnote * : $131,275,522
2022-2023 Planned spending for each horizontal activity: $4,224,628
2022-2023 Actual spending for each horizontal initiative activity: $4,224,628
| 2022–2023 Horizontal initiative activity expected result | 2022–2023 Horizontal initiative activity performance indicators | 2022–2023 Horizontal initiative activity targets | Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity target | 2022-2023 Actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Métis communities have suitable and adequate housing | Number of Métis housing units constructed/purchased | 130 | March 31, 2024 | Not applicableTable note 1 |
| Number of Métis housing units repaired/renovated | 500 | March 31, 2024 | Not applicableTable note 1 | |
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Theme B details
Name of theme: Governance and Institutional Capacity to support Indigenous Housing Improvements
Total federal theme funding, including legacy funding, allocated since the last renewalFootnote * : $859,089,150
2022-2023 Federal theme planned spending: $99,421,155
2022-2023 Federal theme actual spending: $83,226,358
| Theme outcome | Theme performance indicators | Theme targets | Date to achieve theme target | 2022-2023 Actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indigenous communities advance their capacity to govern housing programs and services | Percentage of First Nations that employ at least one dedicated position focused on housing management responsibilities. | To be determined by April 2024 (upon receipt of baseline data) | To be determined (once baseline is established) | Not applicable |
| Percentage of Métis partners that have a housing program control framework (e.g., eligibility and decision-making criteria) for their programs | 100% | March 31, 2024 | Not applicableTable note 1 | |
| Percentage of modern treaty and self-government agreement (SGMT) partners that have provided final reports on their Action Plans | 100% | December 31, 2027 | Not applicableTable note 1 | |
| Percentage of Métis organizations in the Northwest Territories that are providing housing programs to their membership. | 100% | March 31, 2030 | Not applicableTable note 1 | |
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Theme B horizontal initiative activities
Indigenous Services Canada
Link to the department's Program Inventory: Community Infrastructure
Horizontal initiative (HI) activities: Investments in First Nations capacity to govern, manage and deliver housing programs and services
Total federal funding, including legacy funding, allocated to each horizontal initiative activity since the last renewalFootnote * : $235,157,900
2022-2023 Planned spending for each horizontal activity: $31,596,600
2022-2023 Actual spending for each horizontal initiative activity: $15,401,803
| 2022–2023 Horizontal initiative activity expected result | 2022–2023 Horizontal initiative activity performance indicators | 2022–2023 Horizontal initiative activity targets | Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity target | 2022-2023 Actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Nations implement projects to enhance their capacity to manage and maintain their housing | Number of capacity and innovation projects supported as a result of this funding | 332 | March 31, 2024 | 9 capacity and innovation projectsTable note 1 |
| First Nations have improved access to financing for housing projects | Number of Indigenous Financial Institutions participating in a national network (IFI) | 6 new participating IFIs | March 31, 2027 | 0Table note 2 |
| Value of loans without MLGs or local government guarantees | $32,215 | March 31, 2027 | 0 | |
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Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
Link to the department's Program Inventory: Management and Implementation of Agreements and Treaties
Horizontal initiative (HI) activities: Investments in SGMT programs and services
Total federal funding, including legacy funding, allocated to each horizontal initiative activity since the last renewalFootnote * : $565,000,000
2022-2023 Planned spending for each horizontal activity: $65,000,000
2022-2023 Actual spending for each horizontal initiative activity: $65,000,000
| 2022–2023 Horizontal initiative activity expected result | 2022–2023 Horizontal initiative activity performance indicator | 2022–2023 Horizontal initiative activity target | Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity target | 2022-2023 Actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indigenous Peoples manage and control their desired programs and services | Percentage of Self-Government and Modern Treaty First Nations that have submitted Action Plans to access initiative | 100% | March 31, 2024 | Not applicableTable note 1 |
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Link to the department's Program Inventory: Indigenous-Led Services
Horizontal initiative (HI) activities: Housing governance capacity for Métis Nation, Manitoba Métis Federation, and Métis Settlements
Total federal funding, including legacy funding, allocated to each horizontal initiative activity since the last renewalFootnote * : $23,166,269
2022-2023 Planned spending for each horizontal activity: $745,523
2022-2023 Actual spending for each horizontal initiative activity: $745,523
| 2022–2023 Horizontal initiative activity expected result | 2022–2023 Horizontal initiative activity performance indicator | 2022–2023 Horizontal initiative activity target | Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity target | 2022-2023 Actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Métis partners have increased knowledge of their citizens' housing needs | Percentage of housing needs assessments completed by Métis partners | 100% | January 31, 2024 | Not applicableTable note 1 |
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Link to the department's Program Inventory: Northern and Arctic Governance and Partnerships Program
Horizontal initiative (HI) activities: Investments in Métis communities in the Northwest Territories to address housing and infrastructure needs
Total federal funding, including legacy funding, allocated to each horizontal initiative activity since the last renewalFootnote * : $35,764,981
2022-2023 Planned spending for each horizontal activity: $2,079,032
2022-2023 Actual spending for each horizontal initiative activity: $2,079,032
| 2022–2023 Horizontal initiative activity expected result | 2022–2023 Horizontal initiative activity performance indicator | 2022–2023 Horizontal initiative activity target | Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity target | 2022-2023 Actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Territories, Northerners and Indigenous Peoples have access to federal support | Percentage of Métis organizations in the Northwest Territories that have strategic plans, policies, or programs in place to support analysis or advocacy around their housing needs | 100% | March 31, 2024 | Not applicableTable note 1 |
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Total spending, all themesFootnote 1
| Total federal funding, including legacy funding, allocated since the last renewalTable note 1 | 2022–2023 Total federal planned spending | 2022–2023 Total federal actual spending | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theme A: Housing Infrastructure | $3,141,717,622 | $538,828,028 | $554,274,054 |
| Theme B: Governance and Institutional Capacity to support Indigenous Housing Improvements | $859,089,150 | $99,421,155 | $83,226,358 |
| Total, all themes | $4,000,806,772 | $638,249,186 | $637,500,412 |
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