Since 2008, the First Nations Market Housing Fund (FNMHF) has strived to increase homeownership on First Nations lands. The FNMHF has engaged with more than 120 First Nations partners, lists many helpful resources for Indigenous housing providers and individuals, and continues to work alongside other First Nations housing experts to achieve its goals.
This resource-rich article briefly introduces close allies and other organizations involved in improving the availability of appropriate on-reserve First Nations housing through advocacy, research, and policy-making.
National First Nations Housing Advocacy
The Assembly of First Nations works through policy, initiatives, and committees to close the gap between living conditions on and off reserves. In the past decade, they have passed resolutions to create strategies to address homelessness, support First Nations housing and related infrastructure, and update and implement previous plans.
- Approval and Implementation of a National First Nations Homelessness Action Plan (Resolution, December 2023)
- Policy Reform Framework Toward a First Nations Housing and Infrastructure Strategy (Annex, December 2017)
- 10-Year First Nations National Housing and Related Infrastructure Strategy (Draft Strategy, July 2018)
Since 2013, the Indigenous Housing Caucus at the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association has developed and provided Indigenous policy advice on housing and homelessness relevant to First Nations housing both off and on reserve.
- Canadian Housing and Renewal Association’s Indigenous Caucus (Committee Brief, March 2022)
- An Urban, Rural and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy for Canada: For Indigenous, By Indigenous (Submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills, and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities, November 2020)
- The Case for a “For Indigenous, By Indigenous” Urban, Rural and Northern Housing Strategy (January 2020)
- A For Indigenous, By Indigenous National Housing Strategy: Addressing the Housing Needs of Indigenous Families and Individuals in the Urban, Rural and Northern Parts of Canada (Proposal to the Government of Canada, May 2018)
National Professional Organizations
The Aboriginal Financial Officers Association (AFOA), First Nations Financial Management Board (FMB), Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers (Cando), First Nations Housing Professionals Association (FNHPA), and First Nations National Building Officers Association (FNNBOA) are membership-based national organizations supporting capacity development in areas crucial to meeting First Nations housing needs. In addition to membership-based professional development opportunities for Indigenous leadership, AFOA also offers financial wellness tools.
Although the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business (CCIB) is also membership-based, it focuses on promoting economic success and fostering Indigenous prosperity through building relationships with non-Indigenous peoples.
| Allied Organization | Focus Area | Members |
| AFOA | Indigenous finance, administration, management, and leadership | Individuals, corporations, and associates |
| FMB | Good governance and finance practices to foster success in First Nations’ economic and community development | First Nations |
| Cando | Training, education and networking opportunities in First Nations economic development | Economic Development Officers (EDOs) |
| FNHPA | Professional standards, certifications, knowledge sharing, and personal support in First Nations housing | Individuals working for or aspiring to positions in housing with First Nations organizations |
| FNNBOA | Represent members, establish national standards, policies and processes, build capacity, and advocate in residential, commercial and institutional construction and renovation technical services on reserve | Individuals working as building officers and technical service providers in First Nations communities |
| CCIB | Tools, training, programs, Certified Indigenous Business (CIB) certification, network building, major business awards, and national events promoting and fostering Indigenous business | Indigenous and non-Indigenous companies |
Indigenous Housing Research and Advocacy
Two years after the National Indigenous Economic Strategy (NIES) highlighted infrastructure and on-reserve housing shortfalls in its framework for achieving socioeconomic parity for Indigenous Peoples in Canada, the twenty-plus Indigenous organizations announced the National Indigenous Economic Prosperity Institute (NIEPI). The NIEPI at First Nations University plans to use research, policy, and program to achieve the Calls to Economic Prosperity outlined in the NIES, including access to sustainable housing and home ownership.
The Canadian Observatory on Homelessness is a national research institute devoted to homelessness, providing an online research library of over 30,000 resources and housing other projects to end homelessness. The institute has also funded rich reports by Indigenous experts regarding Indigenous homelessness in Canada.
- Indigenous Definition of Homelessness in Canada (Definition, 2017)
- Endaamnaan: Homes for All Nations (First Nations Homelessness Literature Review, 2022)
Also housed at the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness, Making the Shift funds and executes research to prevent and end homelessness for Youth in Canada. Select Indigenous under Projects to see which research is currently devoted to enhancing outcomes for Indigenous Youth.
Other resources:
- Response to the National Housing Strategy (Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC), January 2018)
- A Highlight of the Pathways (and Barriers) to Stable, Culturally Appropriate Housing Experienced by Indigenous 2SLGBTQQIA (A Literature Review Prepared for Native Women’s Association of Canada by Dr. Keri Cheechoo, May 2020)
Government Accountability in Public Housing
Based at the Canadian Human Rights Commission starting in 2022, the Office of the Federal Housing Advocate is an independent, non-partisan body whose role is to hold the government accountable for the implementation of the right to housing and, currently, the goals, timelines and outcomes of the National Housing Strategy.
The non-partisan office engages directly with political leaders, conducts research, receives submissions about systemic housing issues, and makes recommendations to the National Housing Council. Although its mandate is for all of Canada, it highlights distinct First Nations needs.
- Reimagining housing policy in Canada: First Nations leadership, vision and voices (Speech, March 2022)
- Advocating for Change: The Housing Crisis in Canada (Annual Report to the Minister, 2022-2023)
The Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples is mandated to investigate First Nations, Inuit and Métis matters. The committee has conducted studies and examined bills in the areas of the federal government’s constitutional, treaty, political and legal responsibilities to First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.
- On-Reserve Housing and Infrastructure: Recommendations for Change (Report, June 2015)
- Housing on First Nation Reserves: Challenges and Successes (Interim Report, February 2015)
The Department of Justice Canada’s work in bringing fairness, relevance, and accessibility to the justice system includes a leadership role in implementing Indigenous rights to housing.
- 2023–2028 Action Plan on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Action Plan, June 2024)
Indigenous Services Canada and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) are responsible for supporting housing in First Nations communities across Canada. The responsibilities of the financial Corporation (CMHC) include delivering the government’s housing programs. They provide funding for non-profit rental housing projects in First Nation communities and share a variety of fact sheets and papers on Indigenous housing on their website. They are also the mechanism to fund an Indigenous-led National Indigenous Housing Centre.
- Urban, Rural and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy (Engagement Report, 2023)
The Office of the Auditor General of Canada (OAG) conducts legislative auditing of how the federal government uses public funds, including intermittent reporting to support public accountability for improving housing conditions in First Nations communities.
- Housing in First Nations Communities (Independent Auditor’s Report, 2024)
Other Financial Support
The First Nations Finance Authority (FNFA) provides capital planning advice and raises capital to finance community infrastructure and economic development for First Nation communities.
Local Solutions
Some regions and Indigenous organizations have developed regionally and culturally appropriate resources that are not included in this article. Additional resources may be available by province, land claim, treaty, nation, cultural group, lab, research team, or rural, remote, northern or regional geography.