Indigenous Housing Strategy Engagement Table A Coordinated Vision for Indigenous Housing November 14, 2016
The Indigenous Housing Strategy Engagement Table is a collective of Indigenous organizations and Ministry partners working towards the development of a provincial Indigenous Housing Strategy as part of the Province of Ontario s Long Term Affordable Housing Strategy (update). The table s Indigenous organizational members are: Gignul Non-Profit Housing Corporation Métis Nation of Ontario Miziwe Biik Development Corp. Nishnawbe Homes Inc. Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres Ontario Native Women s Association Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association, Aboriginal Committee
Indigenous Housing Strategy Engagement Table A Coordinated Vision for Indigenous Housing Introduction The concurrent development of the National Housing Strategy, the provincial Indigenous Housing Strategy, and the implementation/development of the provincial Long Term Affordable Housing Strategy (LTAHS) requires a coordinated response from Indigenous i Provincial Territorial Organizations to ensure the best housing and health related outcomes for urban Indigenous people ii. This response must be delivered within an expedited timeframe in order for recommendations to be considered and adopted into the budget schedules of the Provincial and Federal governments in 2017 and result in equitable investments to end all forms of Indigenous homelessness and improve Indigenous People s access to quality, affordable housing. The Federal Government has promised a renewed relationship with Indigenous Peoples. To achieve this, it is essential that a cohesive, culturally specific vision for safe, adequate, and affordable housing is articulated throughout the consultation processes and that the demographic reality of the urbanization of the Indigenous population be recognised. Vision of Safe, Affordable, Adequate Housing for all Indigenous People In 2013 the Métis Nation of Ontario, the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres, and the Ontario Native Women s Association conducted eleven community consultations on the housing needs of Indigenous peoples. From these consultations, the Ontario Urban and Rural First Nations, Métis and Inuit Housing Policy Framework ( OUR Framework ) was developed which set forth the following community-driven vision: Indigenous ownership, management, design, and construction of housing that addresses the housing and related needs of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit individuals, families and communities in a cultural, wholistic way. Central to this vision is the concept of self-determination and an understanding that housing intersects with all aspects of self, family and community. OUR Framework asserts that housing for Indigenous people must be grounded within the context of Indigenous cultures and delivered by Indigenous organizations. The benefits of such a model include increased supply, capacity, educational and employment opportunities, leadership, and gender equality to name a few (for full list see Appendix 1). Defining the Vision Adequacy, affordability and safety are commonly held as the necessary pillars of good housing. The stability of good housing is dependent not only the presence of each pillar, but also their integrity and relevance to the inhabitant. For this reason, the definition of adequate, affordable and safe must be inclusive and supportive of Indigenous cultures and values. Adequate Indigenous housing not only means that the unit is in good repair, provides the necessities of life, and is large enough to accommodate all family members, but also that it is supportive of Indigenous identity, family structure, culture, and community. Affordable Indigenous housing means that monthly housing costs do not exceed 25 percent of a household s income and thereby, does not impede the family s ability to support their basic needs. -1-
Due to historic and political contexts, safe Indigenous housing must be expanded upon to include more than the presence of structural, neighborhood, and bodily safety. Housing must also be culturally safe and include: awareness of Indigenous cultures and histories, respect and trust, access to elders and cultural supports, connections to the land, non-judgemental interactions, equal access to services, and consistent, reliable service and supports. iii Indigenous Population and Housing Need The Indigenous population in Ontario is growing at a rate five-times faster than the non-indigenous population and at the same time, is overrepresented in all areas that the LTAHS seeks to target in achieving its goal of ending chronic homelessness by 2025. Indigenous people s historic and systemic exclusion from safe, adequate, and affordable housing is particularly acute for community members in high-risk environments such as Indigenous women and children escaping violence, victims of trafficking, LGBTTQ people, youth transitioning out of institutional care, and people experiencing mental health and addictions challenges. The following qualitative and quantitative data speaks to Indigenous people s overrepresentation in the LTAHS, in systems that contribute to homelessness, and the growing housing need: 84.1 percent of Indigenous people live off reserve iv and represent one-third of the total population in Northern Ontario. v Of the [over] 1 million Indigenous people living in Canada, over one-third have been affected either directly by residential school experiences or indirectly as family or community members linked to survivors vi which has resulted in significant trauma in urban Indigenous communities. In Canada, the Indigenous population is nearing 6 percent, yet only has specific access to less than 1 percent of the social housing stock. Core housing need is more prevalent in Indigenous households (18.7 percent) than non-indigenous households (14.4 percent). vii Core housing need is greater for Indigenous renters (36.5 percent) than homeowners (6.5 percent). viii Due to income inequality and exclusion from labour markets, Indigenous households are less likely to own their own home than non-indigenous households. Homeownership levels in Canada are 70 percent; however, among Indigenous peoples, this drops to 54 percent. ix Homelessness Indigenous people are eight times more likely than the general population to experience homelessness in major urban settings. x Youth aged 16-25 make up approximately 20 percent of the homeless population xi ; approximately 35,000 youth are homeless annually. xii Though the numbers vary greatly between communities, the percentage of homeless people who are Indigenous is likely to average anywhere between 20 and 40 percent. xiii For northern urban centres serving as access points for remote First Nations communities, the percentage of homeless Indigenous people is much higher. A study in Sioux Lookout, northwestern Ontario, found that 99 percent of homeless people in the municipality are Indigenous. xiv -2-
Justice System Provincially: While representing 1.8 percent of the total provincial population in 2006/07, Indigenous people accounted for 9 percent of the total remand population and 8.5 percent of incarcerated inmates in Ontario. xv Indigenous boys aged 12-17 are incarcerated at a rate five times higher than their share of the general population in Ontario and the proportion of Indigenous girls in Ontario jails is 10.7 times higher than their share of the general population. xvi Federally While representing 4.3 percent of the national adult population, as of March 2015, Indigenous adults accounted for 24.4 percent of admissions to federal correctional services. xvii Indigenous women account for 35.5 percent of federally incarcerated women. xviii Children and Youth In Ontario 36 percent of off-reserve Indigenous children under the age of 6 live in poverty compared to 19 percent of non-indigenous children. xix Despite the fact that Indigenous youth (0-19) only make up 2.8 percent of the population in Ontario, Indigenous children make up over 18 percent of children in care in 2014. xx Children are nine times more likely to be in care when being served by an Aboriginal Children s Aid Societies (CAS) than in a mainstream CAS agency. xxi Recommendations Reconciliation with Indigenous people can only be achieved if all levels of government are involved in coordinated, evidence-based actions to transform urban Indigenous housing and supports, and the province can lead the way. Partners of the Indigenous Housing Strategy Engagement Table respectfully requests the Ministry of Housing to bring forth the following recommendations to the Federal Government at the next Federal, Provincial, Territorial meeting: Call for the development of a specific urban, Indigenous stream within the broader National Housing Strategy that: o Affirms the Indigenous Housing Strategy Engagement Table s vision for safe, affordable, and adequate housing; o Is coordinated with the provincial Indigenous Housing Strategy and the LTAHS; o Recognises the root causes of Indigenous homelessness and the many ways in which Indigenous homelessness presents itself; o Commits to actions that will support the recommendations made by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission; Call for the establishment of a specific, proportional, Federal-Provincial allocation in urban Indigenous housing and homelessness supports that would address the four priority areas of the LTAHS, by: o Extending existing investments in deep-core rental housing (See Appendix 2: Retaining Benefits of Existing Indigenous Deep Core Housing); o Delivering new investments in affordable housing units; o Expanding the Indigenous Homeownership Program; o Establishing an urban Indigenous housing trust. -3-
Outcomes Early estimates suggest that a final figure will be near $300 million over three years and accomplish the following: Make substantial headway in meeting the Province s goal of ending chronic homelessness by 2025; Preserve existing housing stock thereby preventing future Indigenous homelessness; Promote a wholistic, Indigenous model of housing, stabilise and contribute to the overall wellbeing of communities, especially in the North; Improve the social and economic inclusion of Indigenous community members and contribute to the Provincial GDP through homeownership, apprenticeships, and employment opportunities. Conclusion The Ministry of Housing has demonstrated its experience and commitment to respectful engagement and consultation with urban, Indigenous communities on the issue of housing and homelessness. The Indigenous Housing Strategy Engagement Table supports the Ministry s leadership with respect to federal engagement and directing investments in Ontario s policy priorities that relate to ending all forms of Indigenous homelessness and improving Indigenous peoples access to adequate, safe, and affordable housing. Partners at the Indigenous Housing Strategy Engagement Table expect that this is the best approach to ensure that the unique housing challenges facing urban Indigenous communities are addressed through a coordinated National Housing Strategy. -4-
APPENDIX 1 OUR Framework identifies the following: The benefits of good housing and policy contribute to the success of individuals, families, communities and the whole of society. Providing housing and related services to FNMI people in a cultural, wholistic manner would: Increase the supply and access to suitable, quality and affordable housing; Develop the individual and community capacity of FNMI people; Improve financial literacy and security; Create opportunities for education, employment and skills training; Provide wrap around services for FNMI people; Support good relationships between individuals, families, and communities; Place cultural practices at the centre of housing; Create leadership within the FNMI community; Generate equality; Promote FNMI values of respect and community; and Share FNMI knowledge and skills with non-indigenous communities. Indeed, research indicates that FNMI health, families, and communities are drastically improved when programs are designed, controlled and managed by FNMI people for FNMI people. -5-
APPENDIX 2: Retaining Benefits of Existing Indigenous Deep Core Housing Although there has been a great deal of positive outcome over the last seven (7) years in the areas of affordable housing development, repair and ownership the First Nation, Métis and Inuit community currently faces the very real prospect of losing any gains with the end of Federal operating agreements that will very negatively impact over 4000 families in the province of Ontario and over 19,000 nationally. Existing social housing is targeted to Canada s lowest-income earners, the Urban and Rural Indigenous Social Housing units are especially vulnerable and federal/provincial reinvestment is needed immediately to keep these families and seniors in their homes. At the height of Canada s social housing program in the mid-1990s, the federal government invested over $2 billion each year on social housing through various operating agreements funded through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, often in collaboration with provincial/territorial governments. This supported over 600,000 low-andmoderate income households. These agreements are starting to expire and federal funding is declining with no future commitments put forward, to date. Without reinvestment many social housing providers, particularly urban and rural Indigenous housing providers, will be unable to continue providing affordable rents for low-income households or make needed repairs. This is because funding is accounted for financing costs and for many the difference between operating costs and rental revenue. This means community housing providers providing Rent-geared-to-income opportunities will have no other choice but to sell units or increase rents in order to continue to support as many households as they can. Research has demonstrated that all Rent-geared-to-income households across the province are at risk. Within these, the 4000 Indigenous urban and rural housing units are particularly vulnerable because: the majority of their funding agreements expire soon; most are federally-funded (as opposed to the cost-shared stock, most of which is under provincial/territorial jurisdiction), 100percent of the people they house have incomes below the poverty level; and the aging housing stock is mostly scattered site housing, which accommodates large Indigenous families, but is more costly to maintain and repair compared to multi-unit buildings. Indigenous Urban and Rural Housing Quick Facts for Ontario: +4000 social housing units operated by Indigenous Urban and Rural housing providers in Ontario. For a number of these units, federal investment through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has already expired or will expire in 2016-17. This will grow to 1450 units or 2/3rds of the current Aboriginal Off-reserve housing stock by 2019-20. Virtually 100percent of their tenants are Indigenous families and seniors living in poverty and requiring social housing subsidies. The Indigenous housing providers cannot bridge the funding gap created when federal investment ends. For those units which have already expired, the tenants are at high risk of losing or have lost their homes because Aboriginal providers have had to increase rents or sell the units. At risk is the displacement of 4000 Aboriginal Off-reserve households. Saving existing deep-core housing provision is a requirement to ensure to new investments described above will provide incremental benefits: -6-
Ontario Reinvestment Requirement for Urban Native and Rural and Native Housing Programs (*Reinvestment is economical; the capital cost to reconstruct 4,000 units would be in excess of $800 million) Year Expired 2016-20 2029-40 Cumulative # of homes facing expiry 120 1,450 4,000 To keep units affordable @ $3,600/year $432K $5.22M $14.4M Capital repairs, replacements and retrofits @ $3,000/year $360K $4.35M $12.0M Annual Total Investment $792K $9.57M $26.4M* -7-
i As defined in OUR Framework, to reflect the diversity of Indigenous peoples and to include all, regardless of status, nationhood, membership or community affiliation, terms: Indigenous, and First Nations, Métis, and Inuit (FNMI) [are] applied interchangeably. However, it is acknowledged that many FNMI people refer to themselves differently and in their own languages. ii The terms urban Indigenous peoples is inclusive of all First Nation, Métis and Inuit living in urban and rural communities not located on a reserve. iii Métis Nation of Ontario, the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres, and the Ontario Native Women s Association. Ontario Urban & Rural First Nations, Métis & Inuit Housing Policy (OUR) Framework. (Ontario, 2013). iv Statistics Canada., National Household Survey (Ottawa, ON: Statistics Canada, 2011). v Service Canada., Client Segment Profile: Aboriginal Peoples, Ontario (Ottawa, ON:Service Canada, 2014). vi Canadian Mental Health Association, Aboriginal People/First Nations, CMHA, http://www.ontario.cmha.ca/about_mental_health.asp?cid=23053 vii MNO, OFIFC, ONWA. OUR Framework, 2013. viii Ibid. ix CMHC (2014). Canadian Housing Observer 2014. With a feature on Housing Affordability and Need. x Belanger, Y. et al. (2013). Homelessness, Urban Aboriginal People, and the Need for a National Enumeration. Aboriginal Policy Studies, 2(2), 4-33. xi Segaert, A (2012). The National Shelter Study: Emergency shelter Use in Canada 2005-2009. Ottawa: Homelessness Partnering Secretariat, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada. xii Gaetz, S. (2014). Coming of Age: Reimagining the Response to Youth Homelessness in Canada. Toronto: The Canadian Observatory on Homelessness Press. xiii Mark Maracle, Executive Director Giagnul Non-Profit Housing June 22, 2012 OMSSA Meeting, 20 Bay Street xiv Snider, Deb. A Sociological Analysis of Aboriginal Homelessness in Sioux Lookout, Ontario, (The Canadian Race Relations Foundation). xv Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services. A Safe, Strong, Secure Ontario: MCSCS Strategic Plan 2008-2013 (Toronto, ON: Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, 2008). Retrieved from: http://www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca/english/publications/2008-2013spfull/0813_sp_full.html xvi Rankin, Jim. Winsa, Patty, Unequal Justice: A Toronto Star investigation. Toronto Star Online, (26 February 2013), News/Insight Section. Retrieved from: http://www.thestar.com/news/insight/2013/02/25/unequal_justice.html xvii Office of the Correctional Investigator. Annual Report of the Office of the Correctional Investigator 2014-2015. (Ottawa, ON: Office of the Correctional Investigator, 2015). Retrieved from: http://www.oci-bec.gc.ca/cnt/rpt/annrpt/annrpt20142015- eng.aspx#s8 xviii Office of the Correctional Investigator. Annual Report of the Office of the Correctional Investigator 2014-2015. (Ottawa, ON: Office of the Correctional Investigator, 2015). Retrieved from: http://www.oci-bec.gc.ca/cnt/rpt/annrpt/annrpt20142015- eng.aspx#s8 xix Statistics Canada. (2008). Aboriginal Children s Survey, 2006: Supporting Data Tables. xx Office of the Correctional Investigator. Annual Report of the Office of the Correctional Investigator 2014-2015. (Ottawa, ON: Office of the Correctional Investigator, 2015). Retrieved from: http://www.oci-bec.gc.ca/cnt/rpt/annrpt/annrpt20142015- eng.aspx#s8 xxi Commission to Promote Sustainable Child Welfare. (2011). Aboriginal Child Welfare in Ontario. Retrieved from: http://www.sustainingchildwelfare.ca/assets/aboriginal-child-welfare-in-ontario-discussion-paper-july-2011.pdf -8-