Policy Areas
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Housing
First Nations Housing Action Plan
Special Chiefs Assembly Report – 2009 Housing Mandate
Resolution No. 81/2008 called for a direct and inclusive role for First Nations in the evaluation of the 1996 On-Reserve Housing Policy. The evaluation process includes a critical look at the manner in which the policies, programs and activities of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) were devised; the degree of First Nations consultation and influence in the developmental process; regional variations of interpretation of policy intent and decision making; and that the evaluation process be seen as the starting point of meaningful participation in all future activities in the renovation of the 1996 Policy in preparation for the next Treasury Board Submission and its accompanying Memorandum to Cabinet. Resolution No. 14/2007 called for the recognition of First Nation Governments to manage and control housing and infrastructure programs from a local, tribal council, treaty organization, or provincial/territorial organization structure. It also called for the transition of management and control of all housing matters from the federal government to First Nations, with an appropriate First Nation network of support, including national and/or regional First Nation ‘Centres of Excellence’ that are local, territorial and regional in scope and be made available to ensure an adequate First Nation capacity development framework. Key Issues and Activities
Evaluation of the 1996 On-Reserve Housing Policy INAC and CMHC, with the engagement of the AFN Chiefs Committee on Housing and Infrastructure (CCoHI) and the Technical Working Group (TWG), have been looking at the Evaluation of the 1996 On-Reserve Housing Policy and assessing the need for change.
AFN Resolution No. 81/2008 was put forward at the Special Chiefs Assembly in December in an effort to ensure that the policy evaluation process, inclusive of planning, contracting, data collection and reporting, respect the authority and jurisdiction of First Nations and work with First Nations and their duly-authorized representatives and organizations to accomplish this effort through regional, territorial and local First Nation initiatives. It also resolved that there be direct involvement of First Nations in the management and delivery of the evaluation process in First Nations communities and that any external consultants engaged in these activities be First Nations in origin and agreed to by First Nations and their duly-authorized representatives and organizations in the process. A senior Strategic Evaluation Committee (SEC) and an Advisory Committee (AC) have been formed to review and direct the evaluation process. The SEC provides guidance on evaluation issues, scope and methodologies, evaluation work and its findings and conclusions. The AC presents the interests and concerns of participating audiences in the development and implementation of the evaluation. Both committees have agreed to incorporate regional variations into the evaluation plan and process, to engage First Nation communities and respect the First Nation organizational structures in place, and use First Nation expertise to the extent possible. Data collection methodologies for the evaluation will include household occupant surveys, key informant interviews, housing condition assessments and case studies. Use of First Nation expertise for household occupant surveys and the housing condition assessments is currently being determined. A number of options for sampling sizes and ranges are being considered with budget amounts identified as a limiting factor. An evaluation of the Ministerial Loan Guarantees and Shelter Allowances for housing has being conducted by KPMG through a standing offer with INAC. The evaluation work at the First Nation level was expected to begin in August and continue through to the fall of 2010 although there have been numerous delays in the developmental stage. Currently the target is to begin in January 2010. Budget 2009 – Canada’s Economic Action Plan The 2009 Budget included $400 million for First Nations housing. INAC is responsible for the delivery of $150 million and CMHC is responsible for the delivery of $250 million. CMHC is providing $125 million for new social housing using the existing Section 95 program and calls for enhanced energy efficiency requirements. There is also $125 million for renovation and retrofit of existing CMHC Section 95 housing units. For the new housing units under CMHC, there has been $62.5 million earmarked for both 2009-10 and 2010-11. All projects committed to will have three months to be underway or risk losing the commitment – lost funds will be reallocated within and across regions when necessary. For the renovation of existing CMHC Section 95 units, there will also be $62.5 million earmarked for both 2009-10 and 2010-11. Commitments for each fiscal year must be completed during the year of commitment and work must begin within three months of the commitment. There will be no opportunity for re-profiling funds across the two fiscal years. CMHC is allocating resources to regions based on the current percentages used by the Section 95 program. Allocations are considered ‘Notional’ and can be cancelled and reallocated if work has not commenced in the three-month window of opportunity. INAC will utilize the $150 million provided in four priority areas:
INAC’s allocation and delivery of funds is proposal and project-based and selections are based on a pre-defined set of criteria that ha been determined in collaboration with CMHC and the National Housing Liaison Committee. The review of proposals takes place at the regional level with the involvement of respective Regional Housing Liaison Committees. Allocations may be adjusted based on demand, supply and uptake. Allocated funds may be reallocated between project components and/or between regions. The first call for proposals has closed and successful projects are expected to be announced soon. National Strategy to Address Mold and Indoor Air Quality The AFN Housing and Infrastructure Secretariat has been active on an Interdepartmental Committee with INAC, CMHC and Health Canada to determine a strategic direction that evolves out of the original 1999 efforts to deal with this concern. The AFN has undertaken a role to communicate the findings of this committee to First Nations and their respective organizations. The strategy is to develop sufficient awareness and capacity among First Nation home occupants, communities and institutions so that they can prevent mold problems or, if such problems occur, remediate them effectively within the constraints of existing funding or own source revenues. This effort is community-based, capacity building oriented, implementation ready and action-oriented, while also being accountable, sustainable and transparent. It should be clearly stated that no new monies have been earmarked for the remediation of existing problems outside of those previously identified. It also appears that there was no attempt to find new monies. Strategic Framework Agreement The AFN has initiated a Strategic Framework Agreement that seeks to coordinate work with the AFN, CCoHI and TWG, and a variety of First Nation and Aboriginal associations that operate on the national level. These parties recognize the authority of the AFN to represent First Nation peoples politically and socially, whether they live on or off reserve. The parties are committed to working collaboratively with the AFN to improve the operational capacity within the housing sector while improving housing service delivery regardless of location. This is ongoing in relation to various files, including the evaluation of the 1996 On-Reserve Housing Policy.
Bill C-304 (An Act to ensure secure, adequate, accessible and affordable housing for Canadians)
This is a private member’s bill that sets out parameters for the development of a National Housing Strategy that recognizes that improved housing conditions are best achieved through cooperative partnerships of government and civil society and the meaningful involvement of local communities. The Minister responsible for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation shall, in consultation with the provincial ministers of the Crown responsible for municipal affairs and housing and with representatives of municipalities and Aboriginal communities, establish a national housing strategy designed to ensure that the cost of housing in Canada does not compromise an individual’s ability to meet other basic needs, including food, clothing and access to education. In a recent presentation to the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development, the AFN committed to participating in the development of such a strategy. This commitment was made in a spirit of optimism that reflects what we know can take place if we collaborate in a manner that allows for strategies to emerge within a multi-jurisdictional environment. A National Housing Strategy must meet the “Continuum of Housing Needs” from Homelessness and Emergency Shelter to Elderly and Disabled housing, community-owned assets and social housing stock, and rent-to-own and private home ownership. A National Housing Strategy must truly acknowledges what secure, adequate, accessible and affordable housing is and spell out how all parties can work collaboratively to achieve desired outcomes. The participation of the AFN will assist in linking First Nation leadership to existing or emerging multilateral tables of dialogue that will result in the ability to harmonize programs and services between on and off reserve. It will provide a First Nation perspective in a long-term strategy that addresses the need for more culturally-appropriate social housing, transitional housing for women and men, second stage housing and mental health programs–that involve directly those that they are meant to serve. It will foster new relationships that allow for First Nation access to programs, activities and initiatives in the off-reserve environment and will help to create a First Nation institutional framework for housing that assists in developing appropriate capacities for sustainable housing strategies and linking that framework to the multi- jurisdictional environment found off reserve.
First Nations Model Housing Policy Guidelines In response to Resolution No. 14/2007, the Housing and Infrastructure Secretariat has been actively researching two key areas of housing that reflect practices illustrating good governance. These include a First Nation Regulatory Environment and the Operational Control of Housing within the regulatory environment. A regulatory environment will identify the manner in which each First Nation, region or territory structures their own means of service delivery and capacity building. The work will help to define the replacement of Government of Canada control and interventions by creating First Nations solutions that develop new options and opportunities. The AFN also undertook a contract with CMHC to produce “First Nation Model Housing Policy Guidelines” to assist First Nations in developing their own community-specific policies. This guide outlines an approach to enhancing First Nations’ understanding of the developmental process. It will assist in creating the environment to properly control the various aspects of the First Nation housing portfolio. The project has drawn from successful housing initiatives implemented by First Nations across Canada and helps to define necessary elements, provide templates and act as a guide for the development and implementation of local First Nation Housing Policies that foster internal First Nation controls and create greater self-reliance. This project is now considered complete and is in the hands of CMHC to be published in January 2010. An electronic version will be posted on the AFN website and communicated to all First Nations at that time. Anticipated Outcomes by March 31, 2010
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