Indigenous Housing Needs Data Resource Library

AHMA has created this data resource library for municipalities to embed Indigenous housing needs in their Housing Needs Reports (HNRs). The library includes basic data points to begin to determine housing need and vulnerabilities with direct links to the data. We hope this will encourage municipalities to include Indigenous populations in their data collection. 

For further information on how municipalities can support Indigenous community members with culturally safe and trauma-informed housing solutions, please click here. 

Background

Indigenous community members continue to be widely overrepresented in homeless populations across BC, and face increased rates of eviction, and eviction into homelessness.^{1, 2} The 2023 Report on Homeless Counts in BC identified that 40% of those who reported experiencing homelessness identified as Indigenous, despite being only 6% of the Census population. This number has climbed to over 80% in some Northern communities. High rates of Indigenous homelessness are attributed to the lack of affordable, safe, and accessible housing and intergenerational trauma resulting from colonization, cultural genocide, and policies that actively sought to dismantle Indigenous culture, families and communities.^{3, 4, 5}

Despite the clear unmet need for Indigenous housing, Housing Needs Reports (HNRs) often do not consider calculations for Indigenous housing needs. HNR data informs municipal plans, priorities and resource allocation, and has the potential to directly influence development priorities and outcomes.  Without a basic consideration of Indigenous-specific housing needs, it will be impossible to bridge the growing gap in access to affordable, safe, and adequate housing. The data collection and evaluation mechanisms will have to change to better support Indigenous community members and move towards reconciliation. 

Indigenous Housing Needs – Data Resources   

Many of the definitions and mechanisms used to measure housing needs and homelessness consistently underestimate and understate the needs of Indigenous people. Determining the true number of affordable housing units needed for Indigenous people requires an understanding of the intersectional realities Indigenous people face. For example, housing insecurity is compounded for Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse peoples.⁶ Inequalities are even more pronounced for Indigenous people with disabilities or health conditions due to reduced access to employment, education, vocational training and disability-specific support.⁷ 

Meaningful collaboration with local First Nations and Indigenous-led organizations is crucial to understanding and addressing the needs in your region, and analyzing the data with a culturally appropriate lens.

Sources include:  

Indigenous Community 

This section outlines a few key data points for beginning to understand the needs and vulnerabilities of Indigenous community members in your region.  

Please note, the Census, by its nature, is only a snapshot in time and cannot tell the full story. Due to incomplete records, the Census undercounts the number of Indigenous people, especially those living on reserves or settlements. With those limitations in mind, the Census still provides a useful picture of the population-level landscape.   

Data Sources: 
Indigenous Population Profile – 2021 Census 
Aboriginal Population Profile – 2016 Census 
NHS Aboriginal Population Profile – 2011 Census   

We recommend the following categories and comparing years to get a sense of changes over time:

Median Household Income for Indigenous population (compare with median household income for total population)  

Indigenous Housing Information  

As a result of intergenerational trauma, combined with the legacy of colonization and myriad systemic barriers, Indigenous communities differ in some key housing indicators. For example, there are fewer Indigenous homeowners compared to the non-Indigenous population province-wide. Indigenous people are also more likely to be renters and face adverse rental experiences. As renters, recent research shows that Indigenous people in BC face increased rates of eviction and eviction into homelessness than the non-Indigenous population.⁸ Additionally, many existing buildings supporting Indigenous people at affordable rents need significant repairs, and operating agreements are set to expire with no commitment to extending them. While investment in new units is desperately needed, preserving the existing housing stock is crucial.  

The Dwelling/Household tab of the Indigenous Population Profile in the 2021 Census can help you locate the following key data indicators.

We recommend the following categories and comparing years to get a sense of changes over time:

Homelessness 

Indigenous people are consistently overrepresented in homeless populations, as measured by Point in Time (PiT Counts). PiT counts are intended to measure of the number of people experiencing homelessness on a specific day. The purpose of the count is to estimate the number of people experiencing homelessness, obtain a demographic profile of those people, and identify trends that can be comparable to previous counts that used a similar methodology. The last PiT Counts took place in the spring of 2023 in 27 communities in B.C. Consistent with all Point in Time Counts to date in B.C., people who identify as Indigenous are overrepresented. It is important to consider the immediate unmet housing needs of these populations experiencing homelessness.   

It is important to note that the PiT count methodology is limiting and results in an absolute minimum enumeration of people experiencing homelessness in a community. Those not accessing services or those in myriad precarious housing situations are underrepresented in PiT counts. It is also commonly understood that PiT counts typically undercount historically marginalized or underrepresented populations, including youth, seniors, Indigenous Peoples, those who have been historically marginalized due to race, members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and persons with disabilities.