As awareness of the First Nations Market Housing Fund grows, more First Nations and community members are asking what the FNMHF can do for them. First, the Fund offers pathways for First Nations to create a foundation of governance, financial management, and community support for a housing market. Nations can then move forward with financial backing to secure loans and support their members to become homeowners.
Once the Nation is partnered with the Fund, the Nation can help members living on reserve have access to services that will help them financially prepare for homeownership and access loans from partner lenders. These services may also be activated by off-reserve members seeking a way home.
Here are some answers to more specific questions that those new to the Fund are asking, plus more resources to help individuals and Nations understand the Fund’s activities in achieving sustainable, affordable housing for First Nations people on reserve.
What exactly does the Fund do?
The First Nations Market Housing Fund is a non-profit organization founded in 2008. As described above, it helps First Nations communities across Canada make homeownership possible on reserve lands.
Creating a housing market on reserve is a huge undertaking. Based on financial expertise and what they’ve learned from their other First Nation clients, the Fund has designed a process that considers everything a Nation needs to succeed at supporting members to build, buy, or fix homes.
In 2024, the Fund supported almost a hundred First Nations with training and support to qualify for their loan guarantee services. This pathway of preparation is called Capacity Development (CD), and the loan guarantee program is called Credit Enhancement (CE). The Fund had 128 CE clients in 2024 and is gaining traction to support the construction, purchase, refinance, or renovation of a hundred units a year. Learn more about the two programs here: Understanding the First Nations Market Housing Fund’s Programs & Services.
Guided by the Seven Sacred Teachings and respect for Nations’ unique traditions and values, the Fund is working with 41% of First Nations communities in Canada. Learn more about their governance, staffing, mandate, and more here.
Am I eligible for the Fund’s services?
This is the right question to ask! Whether your space is in need of repair, your space is overcrowded, or you wish to be back with your community, start with your Band office.
Your Nation’s housing department can let you know the status of on-reserve homeownership supports and whether your Nation has signed up with the Fund. If they’re not active with the Fund, you can help get the ball rolling by letting Chief and Council know that purchasing or repairing your home is important to you. They can then connect with someone from the Fund to learn more and request a presentation.
Members of partner Nations may be eligible for financial counselling support towards homeownership or homeownership-related workshops. Guidance for first-time homebuyers is also available through the Fund’s Homeownership Navigators. Individuals may reach out to info@fnmhf.ca or call 1-866-582-2808 to access that support.
Wait, does the Fund offer loans or not?
The Fund removes barriers to accessing loans to boost First Nations homeownership on reserve. This is needed because the Crown technically holds reserve lands, giving lenders nothing to recover their investment if the mortgage is not paid. Learn more about the status of First Nations housing here: 10 Things You Need to Know About On-Reserve Housing in Canada.
This isn’t to say that defaults on home loans are a worry. Of the over $1 million secured and guaranteed housing loans, the Fund has never had to pay any claims to lenders.
The Fund doesn’t work directly between First Nations members and lenders. It assists client Nations in developing an on-reserve loan program with its approved lenders, which is based on the specific needs of that community. The list of participating lending partners is on the website here.
How can I get started on my homeownership journey?
Beyond encouraging your Nation’s leadership to meet with a representative from the Fund, a recent blog offers 10 Things to Start Your On Reserve Housing Journey.
I work for the Nation. How do we learn more about the Fund?
An invitation for the Fund to make a presentation to your Chief and Council and senior administration about the programs, services, application criteria, and procedures is all you need to get started.
One way to get a meeting in the calendar of any organization is to set it far in the future. It’s polite to give people plenty of notice, but also strategic. We’re more likely to click “yes” on an invitation months away, optimistically assuming we’ll have the time.
To request a presentation, please call 1-866-582-2808 or send an email to info@fnmhf.ca.
We’ve worked with the Fund, but our Nation’s Credit Enhancement Agreement has expired. What should I do?
First Nations have many urgent priorities, making it easy to leave one or more areas unattended. If your CE Agreement has expired, kindly contact the Senior Program Officer (SPO) responsible for your First Nation. If you are unsure of the SPO, you can access assistance by email at info@fnmhf.ca or by calling 1-866-582-2808.
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First Nations people deserve access to safe and accessible housing. The Fund is eager to continue its partnerships with First Nations so that communities can gather and live on their traditional lands, forging connections towards sustained language, arts, and culture. Read more about how housing supports thriving, healthy nations in these two blog posts: