“Combining culturally appropriate and trauma-informed care with safe, secure housing is essential in helping Indigenous women heal and rebuild their lives,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “These new complex-care housing units offer the supports needed to help people stabilize and improve their well-being, all under one roof and for as long as they need.”
We hope to see an equitable portion of the HEART and HEARTH dollars in BC Budget 2025 designated for Indigenous-led housing societies, that successfully work on the frontline of preventing homelessness with trauma-informed solutions.
The Indigenous Caucus of the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association (CHRA) held a press conference calling on the federal government to immediately release the $2.8 billion funding allocation that it has committed to Indigenous housing providers. This funding, originally part of Budget 2023, has faced repeated delays.
To date, the government has made a series of first step investments into an Urban, Rural and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy, but they fall far short of their own National Housing Council’s recommendations to meet the true need. To make matters worse, not one single dollar of the $2.8 billion committed in the 2023 federal…
The Kílila Program, named after the butterfly (symbolizing transformation in the Sḵwx̱ wú7mesh Nation language), was an initiative focused on retrofitting a cabin at the Cheakamus Centre in October 2024. The program was facilitated through BCIT and the Cheakamus Centre, with support from multiple funding partners.
As the federal government struggles to maintain course, advocates call for the immediate release of previously committed and desperately needed funds for urban Indigenous housing. In Canada, Indigenous people are 13 TIMES more likely to experience homelessness than non-Indigenous people ―an unacceptable inequity.
Throughout 2024, AHMA participated in a number of advocacy and engagement activities to further empower Urban Indigenous Peoples and advocate for greater autonomy and FIBI approaches to housing.
“This achievement reflects your unwavering commitment to supporting Indigenous housing and services across British Columbia. Your hard work and dedication are paving the way for meaningful change and addressing critical needs within our communities” (Gary Wilson, AHMA Board President and NICHI Co-Chair).
“We see housing as not just a roof over one’s head, but a vital part of overall well-being. Housing affects health, education and economic stability for both individuals and communities. We see this echoed in research that identifies housing as a social determinant of health. Equitable access to housing is essential to protect human rights….
Housing Central is a formal partnership between BC Non-Profit Housing Association and the Co-operative Housing Federation of BC. Together, we support and advocate for the community housing sector so that all British Columbians have a safe, secure home they can afford. We are co-located in our Vancouver office, sharing resources and knowledge to better serve each…
As the final vote count in the 2024 provincial election is confirmed, Housing Central – comprised of the Aboriginal Housing Management Association, BC Non-Profit Housing Association and the Co-operative Housing Federation of BC – extends congratulations to the incoming government. This election was an opportunity for voters across British Columbia to make their voices heard…
FortisBC Energy Inc. and FortisBC Inc. (“FortisBC”) unveiled nine of B.C.’s exceptional energy champions at their 2024 Efficiency in Action Awards. The actions these award recipients took represent the innovative and effective work happening in the province to help lower energy use, overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and operational costs across B.C.’s commercial and industrial…
AHMA and Connective will work together to create more housing opportunities for underserved Indigenous people living off reserve in communities across BC. The recently formalized two-year partnership is a unique opportunity to leverage our respective strengths, expertise, networks, and resources, to empower Indigenous people to develop their own housing services. Read more >
“We approach housing with a similar spirit of interconnectedness that guides Indigenous world views. We see housing as not just a roof over one’s head, but a vital part of overall well-being. Housing affects health, education and economic stability for both individuals and communities.” Read More >
The Housing Central partners are calling on all parties to respond to the urgent need for targeted action to address the ongoing affordable housing crisis. Housing Central’s Build More. Protect More. A New Affordable Housing Plan for BC details current and projected affordable housing needs with solutions that will support renters and Indigenous peoples, and…
The Indigenous Housing Fund allows AHMA members and First Nations to continue the critically important work of providing housing and services for those most in need of a safe place to call home. AHMA is proud of the collaborative work we have done with the Province and BC Housing to establish this support for all…
Two rental buildings in North Vancouver and Squamish have been acquired and preserved by Hiy̓ám̓ Housing and Housing Squamish respectively, through the support of the the Rental Protection Fund (RPF). These acquisitions are a great contribution to affordable housing for vulnerable people in communities where rental housing is in short supply.
AHMA was quoted in a FortisBC news release which introduced a new rebate of $10,000 or more for eligible customers who replace their home’s older gas heating system with an electric heat pump and high-efficiency gas furnace.
Sara Fralin, AHMA’s Engagement & Technical Support Manager, talked to BC Hydro about their partnership with AHMA. In this Q&A, Sara highlights the importance of affordable off-reserve housing for Indigenous people, discusses the benefits of BC Hydro’s partnership with AHMA, and sheds light on sustainability and energy efficiency in the Indigenous housing sector.
On Friday May 31, the federal government announced $12.8 million in funding through the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) for AHMA to support the repairs and preservation of 855 homes for Indigenous residents in BC.
First Nations people in BC will benefit from improved health and housing outcomes as the Aboriginal Housing Management Association (AHMA) and the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) sign a historic, new Memorandum of Partnership.
On National (Right to) Housing Day on November 22, 2023, the Federal Housing Advocate co-hosted a webinar entitled “Making the Best of Public Money for Public Good” with the National Right to Housing Network. This report summarizes what was heard from experts who participated, including AHMA CEO Margaret Pfoh.
In the wake of the Government of Canada’s 2024 budget release, AHMA and their provincial and federal partners are asking to speed up the delivery of funding promised for those most in need. Federal budget 2024 boasts increased spending on housing but Indigenous housing experts want expedited action on implementation.
It is also critical that encampment responses be For Indigenous, By Indigenous. Indigenous housing experts and encampment residents need to be meaningfully included and their voices prioritized in conversations and municipal planning around housing and supports for Indigenous people experiencing homelessness.
Indigenous-led housing is essential to reducing the gaps, barriers, and challenges Indigenous Peoples with diverse abilities face. Current systems increase the risk of the most vulnerable falling through the cracks and into a cycle of homelessness.
AHMA being a full and equal partner at the table of the Rental Protection Fund is an excellent example of elevating Indigenous leadership. We celebrate our member, Lu’ma Native Housing Society, for their involvement in this acquisition, which helps preserve affordable rental units for future generations.
Hard times ahead for Indigenous housing providers. Safe, affordable housing is a key component to ending cycles of poverty and improving health outcomes for Indigenous families but the wait for funds continues.
Recent changes to BC’s Residential Tenancy Act help enhance risk management for supportive housing operators and safety for their tenants, which the Aboriginal Housing Management Association (AHMA) strongly advocated for in early 2023.
Throughout 2023 AHMA participated in a number of advocacy and engagement activities to further empower Urban Indigenous Peoples and advocate for greater autonomy and FIBI approaches to housing.
