The Province of B.C. is committed to addressing Aboriginal housing needs through the provincial housing strategy, Housing Matters BC. Aboriginal housing programs help build safe, affordable housing for Aboriginal people in greatest need.

Latest News

Province Reaches Out to Aboriginal Homeless - February 8, 2008 - Non-profit societies in eight communities have been selected to provide homeless Aboriginal people access to housing and support services through a new $500,000 Aboriginal Homeless Outreach Program.

Developing an Off-reserve Aboriginal Housing Action Plan for British Columbia - The Office of Housing and Construction Standards (OHCS) is leading the development of a ten-year off-reserve Aboriginal Housing Action Plan.

Addressing Aboriginal housing needs

BC Housing is working with the Aboriginal Housing Management Association (AHMA) to achieve our common goal of Aboriginal self-management, self-reliance and self-sufficency and the provision of safe, affordable housing for Aboriginal peoples. In October 2004, an agreement to transfer management of 189 housing units from the provincial government to AHMA was announced, an important step toward Aboriginal self-management of social housing.

AHMA is the first and only Aboriginal social housing management agency in Canada. It was formed in B.C. in the mid-1990s and represents 12 Aboriginal housing associations across the province. For more information on AHMA, click here.

In June 2006, the federal government signed the Canada - BC Social Housing Agreement , which included the transfer of the administration of approximately 2,660 off-reserve Aboriginal housing units. Currently, BC Housing, in co-operation with AHMA, is administering the off-reserve Aboriginal housing units until the process of transferring the files to AHMA is finalized.

In January 2007, BC Housing formed an Aboriginal Capacity Building team to work with AHMA throughout the transition process. Team members are assisting AHMA as it builds capacity to manage a tenfold expansion of subsidized housing administration.

Aboriginal housing programs
There are two housing programs for Aboriginal peoples to meet immediate and long-term housing needs:

Aboriginal Homeless Outreach Program - It directly engages homeless Aboriginal people living on the streets and provides access to housing, income assistance, and community-based support services to help break the cycle of homelessness.

Aboriginal Housing Initiative - It provides funding to develop new, affordable housing for Aboriginal people living off-reserve, meeting the long-term Aboriginal housing need.

For more information