News & Media

News release

March 26, 2025 — Ottawa, Unceded Traditional Territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg Nation, Ontario

Today, NICHI celebrates a historic milestone, having successfully distributed $275.2 million in federal funding to support 74 Indigenous-led housing projects across Canada. This achievement demonstrates the effectiveness of NICHI’s “For Indigenous, By Indigenous” approach in addressing the urgent housing needs of Indigenous peoples living in urban, rural, and northern communities.

In less than a year and a half, NICHI has moved this critical funding from government announcement to shovels in the ground, with some projects already welcoming Indigenous families into safe and affordable homes. This rapid deployment underscores NICHI’s commitment to efficient and impactful delivery of resources. The funded projects, showcased on NICHI’s interactive project map, will create more than 3,800 housing units and represent a diverse range of solutions tailored to the unique needs of each community.
For example, in Iqaluit Nunavut, the community faced an acute shortage of affordable and safe housing, with over 500 units needed locally and thousands across the territory. Families often live in overcrowded conditions, with multiple people sharing single bedrooms. Current options, such as public housing with years-long waitlists and employer-provided staff housing, are inadequate, limiting personal and professional freedom.

To combat this, YWCA Agvik Nunavut received $2.4 million in capital funding, acquiring a mixed-use building in Iqaluit with funding from NICHI. The building includes four two-bedroom apartments housing Inuit women and their families, as well as a nearly 3,000 sq. ft. daycare space for Tumikuluit Daycare, expanding its capacity from 20 to 36 children. Currently, all of the residential units are fully occupied, providing housing for up to eight occupants while meeting critical housing and childcare needs, which were identified as key priorities for the community.

This $281.5 million investment represents a historic step towards reconciliation, providing safe and affordable housing for thousands of Indigenous peoples and building capacity for future projects. The overwhelming demand for this funding demonstrates the critical gap in Indigenous housing. Through the process of allocating this money, NICHI received 447 applications totaling over $2 billion in housing needs. NICHI is proud to play a vital role in connecting Indigenous-led organizations with the resources they need to build strong, healthy communities.

NICHI is committed to continuing its collaborative work with Indigenous leaders, housing providers, and local communities to ensure that all Indigenous peoples have access to safe, secure, and affordable housing.

 

Quotes

“The Board is immensely proud of NICHI’s achievement in delivering $281.5 million to Indigenous communities across Canada. Moving from a government announcement to families in homes in under a year and a half is a testament to Housing providers working incredibly hard for their communities, and in the success of a For Indigenous, By Indigenous approach. This milestone underscores NICHI’s unwavering commitment to providing safe, affordable housing and strengthening Indigenous communities nationwide.” Chair NICHI

Jocelyn Formsma
Chair, National Indigenous Collaborative Housing Incorporated

“This is a momentous occasion for NICHI and the Indigenous communities we serve. The rapid and efficient distribution of $275.2 million, impacting urban, rural, and northern communities, demonstrates our ability to effectively address the urgent need for Indigenous housing. Going from announcement to homes in less than 18 months is a remarkable feat. I’m deeply grateful to our team, partners, and the 70+ Indigenous housing providers who made this possible.

This collaboration with Indigenous Services Canada proves conclusively that when funding decisions can be made by Indigenous peoples and Indigenous communities, we can build homes more quickly and more effectively.

While this is a historic step forward for Indigenous housing, we have identified over $2 billion in other deserving projects through the process of flowing this money. NICHI remains committed to working collaboratively with housing providers nationwide to ensure every Indigenous person has a safe and affordable place to call home.”

John Gordon
Chief Executive Officer, National Indigenous Collaborative Housing Incorporated

“We wish to acknowledge the difficult task that NICHI took on to disburse this funding across this country with very tight timelines. As Indigenous people we know that the work involved making decisions where the need far exceeds what was made available to them. We also know that the impact of the stories included with these applications personally resonate with the staff who had to make these selections, because this is all of our reality. We are aware that the funding that was allocated nationally would have covered only 1/5th of the need in Nunavut for example. We want to take a moment to thank the people at NICHI who exposed their minds and spirits to join the committees and do what they could. So, we are sending thanks not just as successful applicants but as one of many organizations that had the opportunity to try and to do what we could.”

Sherri Robertson
Y.W.C.A. Agvik Nunavut

“CUMFI is so thankful for the funders that supported the Domestic Violence Homes for our Indigenous women and 2 spirit community. We have the opportunity to provide a warm welcoming supported environment for woman and children who are in crisis.”

Shirley Isbister
Central Urban Metis Federation Incorporated

“Securing this funding is a pivotal moment in our commitment to providing safe, supportive, and culturally responsive housing for Indigenous women at risk of homelessness. The creation of this cluster-style home in Prince George is more than just a place to stay; it represents a step toward healing, empowerment, and a brighter future for vulnerable women in our community. Aboriginal Housing is deeply grateful for the partnership that has made this vision a reality and for the opportunity to uplift and strengthen the lives of those who have long been underserved. We look forward to continuing our work with NICHI, as their funding enables us to directly address critical gaps within our community, for Indigenous people, by Indigenous people.”

Julia Sundell
Aboriginal Housing Society of Prince Georg

“Thank you to NICHI and their program managers for making this process go so smoothly. Without their help and dedication, our community would not be able to address the growing needs for housing. We greatly appreciate this opportunity”

Karen Sanderson
Lac Ronge Native Women’s Council

Associated links

• https://nichi.ca/
• Allocations Map
• Press Conference

Contacts

For more information, media may contact:

Christina Gervais
Communications and Public Relations
National Indigenous Collaborative Housing Incorporated (NICHI)
cgervais@nichihousing.com
1-306-485-8636