The Role of First Nations Housing Managers

A First Nations housing manager will interact with renters, homeowners, Chief and Council, committees, direct reports, inspectors, businesses, and contractors on any given day. This high-profile role offers the opportunity to make a lasting impact on community well-being and economic development.

The role of on-reserve housing manager is complex, wide-ranging and well suited to a professional with diverse business, management, and interpersonal skills. As the environment, regulations, and directives change regularly, it’s helpful for this person to have a flexible mindset and enjoy learning and challenges. With a foundation of cultural competency, a housing manager will have the tools they need to fulfill the demanding responsibilities of the job.

Responsibilities

A housing manager manages housing policies and plans and ensures they are implemented daily, reporting to Chief and Council or a representative committee regularly and as requested. They may be involved in creating a nation’s housing plan and are responsible for its financial management. 

Addressing pressing challenges like overcrowding and mould, their work directly impacts the health of families and communities. 

Business Skills and Experience

Implementing the housing plan involves juggling many operations, tasks, and projects. Most nations are looking for candidates with a combination of experience and education in business management, business administration, project management, and financial management so that projects are completed on time, on budget, and within scope.

Supervisory experience is a great asset, as the manager assigns many responsibilities to enact a community’s vision. A solid team environment increases efficiency and may include financial administrators, technicians, custodians, groundskeepers, and lead hands keeping up with repairs, constructing new housing, and tracking spending.

Interpersonal skills are essential for developing relationships and navigating difficult ones. Building good relations with favoured contractors and vendors can keep costs low and minimize delays. In areas with limited options for qualified builders and tradespeople, a housing manager may be tasked with finding constructive ways to work with those available. 

Financial Expertise

The First Nations housing manager plays a crucial role in forecasting the community’s needs and keeping an inventory of resources available. Environmental scans reveal repairs and replacements needed, units contaminated by mould, construction costs, lots and services available, and the cost of servicing lots. 

The housing manager must be able to analyze a housing situation and provide a savvy financial analysis. Ideally, they work directly on a nation’s housing plan so that their insights into risk management and costs are considered in the approach. They balance the budget and may also source, apply for, and report on housing funds.

Hands-on Know-how

The most concrete skills a housing manager can have are construction trades. On-site experience provides insight into the day-to-day progress of a project. Most job candidates don’t have all the experience an employer wishes for – but wouldn’t it be nice to have a housing manager who understands the nuts and bolts of a project? It could be an informed intuition about what may be stalling a project, where there’s waste, or an opinion on materials, rock, soil, irrigation, blueprints, and schedules based on personal experience.

In Relationship with Community

Community members with questions, applications, and repair requests look for answers and accountability in their housing manager. Applications for lots, for building or purchasing a home, and for renting a home all land in the housing manager’s inbox.

Frustrations with long waitlists, overdue repairs, or paperwork may be eased with plain language insights into relevant policies and accurate estimates of resolutions. A patient ear and sincere, empathetic response can go a long way, too.

A historical understanding of how European settlement and the Indian Act affected land and housing and the heritage of government housing policies is foundational to understanding the current outcomes. Knowing how the specific First Nation a housing manager serves traditionally sheltered and constructed their homes before colonization, and the distinct experiences of the community during settlement and colonization are also important context. 

Being culturally and historically informed prepares a housing manager to see the root causes of housing challenges and the strengths the community holds in overcoming barriers they did not create. Engendering pride in a community’s culture, values, and ingenuity is a helpful tool in staying hopeful when situations are tough.

The First Nations housing manager may take a leadership role in painting a big picture for the community that sees the past, acknowledges the present, and looks to a future with sustainable and affordable housing for all. First Nations can be a visionary force in addressing housing challenges from coast to coast to coast.

Documenting For Success

The housing manager is responsible for drafting agreements with contractors, service providers, tenants, and homeowners. They document and update policies and procedures to direct activities and align with changing codes, regulations, and legislation. Writing reports for leadership and funders supports accountability and adaptive planning.

Planning for the Future

As First Nations are disproportionately affected by climate change and climate disasters, housing managers are in a challenging position. Steps can be taken to minimize the impacts of high winds, fires, and floods – but decades of work can be lost in days.  

As demoralizing as this may be, there is room for optimism if housing is planned correctly. Making homes more accessible, building with local materials, and incorporating culturally appropriate elements support long-lasting housing that serves the needs of those living and gathering there. 

Ongoing Support

Educational support and mentorships may foster the next generation of First Nations housing managers and allow community members to serve their people while working and living on the reserve. 

Networking, sharing ideas, upgrading certifications, updating training, and conducting professional development are all critical measures that enable a housing manager to stay engaged, find inspiration, increase efficiency, and encourage safety. A membership-based organization serving housing management professionals and aspiring professionals, the First Nations Housing Professionals Association (FNHPA) provides these services.

Busy housing managers may prefer to complete their professional development on their schedule. The Home on the Rez podcast features in-depth interviews on a range of on-reserve housing topics, including how some First Nations communities are successfully addressing their housing challenges and what living on reserve means to community members. Three seasons of 15-minute episodes are available to download free from the First Nations National Building Officer’s Association (FNNBOA).