NICHI represents Indigenous housing providers across Canada

The National Indigenous Collaborative Housing Inc. (NICHI) exists to uphold and advance housing as a human right for all Indigenous Peoples living in urban, rural and northern communities from coast-to-coast-to-coast. NICHI is built on a principle of cooperation and coordination of expertise amongst members, partners, and stakeholders committed to ensuring that no Indigenous person living off-reserve or away from their home community gets left behind because of where they live. To deliver relevant and appropriate services, NICHI believes the best approach is For Indigenous By Indigenous.

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Extensive Expertise

NICHI’s governance, management, and operational structures draw on the strengths that Indigenous service organizations bring to the collaboration. We have rolled out funding, are developing a national Urban, Rural, Northern (URN) Indigenous Housing Strategy, convening Indigenous-led housing providers, and filling a gap as a national coordinating mechanism.

NICHI established a For Indigenous, By Indigenous mobilization and funding process that prioritized those most in need, with housing projects that were already underway and in need of support, or 'shovel-ready'. Projects were selected by our independent Project Selection Advisory Council. The PSAC members brought with them a wide range of expertise and perspectives. Each member was selected for their deep understanding of Indigenous housing issues, as well as their commitment to serving their communities.

2023-24: 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 delivered this funding through a proposal process for Indigenous-led, non-profit projects that address urgent and unmet housing needs of Indigenous Peoples in urban, rural and northern communities.

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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).”

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NICHI’s Principles

In advancing this work, we agree to abide by the following principles:

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Respect

Respect for each other and upholding self-determination and Indigenous sovereignty. NICHI members are autonomous Indigenous organizations that came together to form a national collaborative.

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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;

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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 holistically Indigenous 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

Construction

Sector support for the National Urban, Rural, and Northern Indigenous Housing Groups

NICHI Membership

Join our Membership

For Indigenous housing organizations

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By joining the NICHI we agree to abide by the following principles:

  • Respect for each other and upholding self-determination and Indigenous sovereignty. NICHI members are autonomous Indigenous organizations that form a national body to achieve the housing purposes of the collaborative;
  • 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;
  • 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.
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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.