Indigenous and Northern Communities to Benefit from Historic Housing Investments

Canada’s housing crisis has hit Indigenous, rural, and northern communities especially hard, but Budget 2024 offers targeted solutions. The federal government is proposing over $5 billion in infrastructure investment for Indigenous housing, with an additional $4.3 billion committed to a new Urban, Rural, and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy. These measures were outlined in detail by Housing and Infrastructure Canada as part of a broader effort to ensure equitable access to housing.

The strategy emphasizes a for-Indigenous, by-Indigenous approach. It includes the creation of a National Indigenous Housing Centre and supports self-determination in housing design, construction, and management. The approach also recognizes that nearly half of the Indigenous population lives in urban areas and requires tailored support.

Budget 2024 also earmarks $1 billion to expand the Reaching Home homelessness program, which has helped over 71,000 people find stable housing. An additional $250 million will be used to combat encampments, with funding matched by provincial partners. These funds will support transitional and supportive housing initiatives, rent supplements, and human rights-based action plans.

Further investments are planned in culturally appropriate shelters and transitional homes, particularly for Indigenous women, children, and 2SLGBTQIA+ people fleeing violence. These projects will be led by Indigenous organizations with federal backing, allowing them to shape housing programs that reflect cultural needs and community priorities.

These efforts mark the largest federal investment in Indigenous housing in Canadian history, reinforcing the government’s commitment to reconciliation through housing justice. Credit: Housing and Infrastructure Canada.