Extensive Expertise
NICHI’s governance, management and operational structures draws on the strengths that Indigenous service organizations bring to the collaboration. It will roll out a national Urban, Rural, Northern (URN) Indigenous Housing Strategy, convene Indigenous-led housing providers, and fill a gap as a national coordinating mechanism.
In its first round of funding, NICHI established a mobilization process that prioritized those most in need, with housing projects underway in need of support, or almost ready to launch. Selection was be done by a Project Selection Advisory Council of neutral, non-housing providers. Details on successful proponents are available in the media section.
Funding Allocation for Urgent & Unmet Needs
On June 8 2023, the government of Canada announced that it would provide $281.5 million to address the critical need of safe and affordable urban, rural and northern Indigenous housing projects for Indigenous people living away from their traditional communities.
This funding initiative is part of the Government of Canada’s commitment to address the social determinants of health and advance self-determination in alignment with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People articles 21 and 23. Deploying funding through NICHI is part of the Government of Canada’s commitment to moving ahead in the journey towards reconciliation.
In recognition of the need for immediate action, NICHI has delivered this funding through a proposal process for Indigenous-led, non-profit projects that addressed urgent and unmet housing needs of Indigenous Peoples in urban, rural and northern communities.
Housing – a Human Right
NICHI prioritizes housing as a human right and is unified by its goal to achieve a National URN Indigenous Housing Strategy that is fully Indigenous-led. In response to the lack of specific and sufficient federal housing support for the 80+ per cent of Indigenous households living in urban, rural and northern areas without the support of their Nations or cultural community, NICHI advocates for holistic, serviced-based community housing that empowers Indigenous communities.
UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)
Indigenous peoples “have the right, without discrimination, to improve their economic and social conditions, including housing (UNDRIP Article 21); the right to housing and other economic and social programmes affecting them, and administer such programmes through their own institutions (UNDRIP Article 23), and; to maintain and strengthen their distinct social and cultural institutions (UNDRIP Article 5).”
NICHI’s Principles
In advancing this work, we agree to abide by the following principles:
Respect
Respect for each other and upholding self-determination and Indigenous sovereignty. The signatories are autonomous Indigenous organizations that form a coalition to achieve the housing purposes of the coalition;
Support
Through the development of culturally-appropriate housing and services, we support the retention and revitalization of our diverse cultures through our respective cultures and traditions, ways of knowing and being, and respect for the land;
Equity
To be respectful of each other and of all life; and to ensure that housing is provided to all URN Indigenous peoples on an equitable and as needed basis, in an Indigenous holistic manner.
Here for your community
If your community is in need of housing support or services, NICHI is ready to collaborate. Contact: info@nichihousing.com
Sector Support for the National Indigenous Collaborative Housing Inc.
NICHI Membership
Join our Membership
For Indigenous housing organizations
A Member is defined as an Indigenous Housing Group. “Indigenous Housing Group” means an urban, rural, or northern Indigenous organization providing housing services in any province or territory of Canada.
Eligibility Criteria (proof is required below):
- Indigenous-led organizations in urban, rural and northern areas of Canada. We define Indigenous-led organizations as:
- Board and Executive leadership is over 50% Indigenous.
- Organization serves one or all of the three distinct Indigenous populations in your community or region, i.e. First Nation, Inuit or Métis.
- Non-Profit
- Housing Group as providing at least one of the following:
- Supportive Services
- Transitional/ Supportive Housing
- Non-market Housing
- Affordable Housing
Please download the application form, then submit your completed application and organization's logo (.jpg file) to: info@nichihousing.com.
You will receive an email confirmation once your application has been reviewed for approval.
Wider sector support for the National Indigenous Collaborative Housing Inc.
Support for NICHI
Support NICHI
For Wider Sector Support
(for any organization that does not meet the membership eligibility criteria)
Investments in affordable housing must include funding for culturally relevant community resources, health services, and education to break the systemic cycle of housing insecurity that has left so many Indigenous families behind