Funding of $281.5 million is now available to organizations looking to build housing for Indigenous people across Canada.
National Indigenous Collaborative Housing Inc. announced on Nov. 24 that applicants can now apply for funding under the For Indigenous By Indigenous (FIBI) program, which is open to Indigenous-led organizations in urban, rural and northern areas of Canada; non-profits serving Indigenous people; and Indigenous-led organizations.
The funding aims to “level the playing field for access to funding and help toward long-term solutions that have positive outcomes at the individual level."
“Don’t expect a conventional application process,” the organization said in a news release.
“This is an Indigenous process where rather than telling applicants, NICHI is asking them to tell us what they need in order to address their local urgent and unmet Indigenous housing needs in urban, rural and northern areas.”
The funds are part of the $4.3 billion the Government of Canada set aside for Indigenous communities Budget 2022.
CEO Jeff Loucks said the funding is “a start” in making Indigenous voices heard.
“No one understands better how the effects of colonization and intergenerational trauma has led to a lack of safe, affordable, adequate housing and housing insecurity for Indigenous people than those on the front lines, the local Indigenous housing and support organizations. We honour these heroes,” Loucks said in a news release.
“It's time these stories were gathered from coast-coast-to-coast and their voices brought together to demand more.”
Submissions for funding will be accepted until Jan. 12, 2024.
