Fifty-six new homes are on the way for shíshálh Nation as part of a new partnership between the province, BC Housing, and Indigenous non-profit housing providers, bringing approximately 1,600 homes to Indigenous people throughout B.C.
The 56 homes will be placed in Sechelt, Selma Park & Sunshine Coast Highway in partnership with Tsain-Ko Housing Society.
Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing said with the 1,600 new units announced, they are just under the Indigenous Housing Fund’s goal of 3,500 homes, “which is exciting news because it's three years ahead of schedule.”
“We know that Indigenous people are disproportionately high in the numbers of people who are struggling to find housing or access housing, and so having this Indigenous housing not only supports Indigenous peoples, but it supports the community at large,” Kahlon said.
He said the budget for the local homes was $1.7 billion and the final breakdown for each site still needs to be done as site work needs to happen before costs are finalized.
These homes are part of shíshálh Nation’s Selma Park project, which brought several homes to the community via barge earlier this year.
Kahlon hopes to start putting shovels in the ground for the 1,600 projects next year, saying they’ll all start at different times depending on the availability of supplies, workforce, etc.
“But I know, for example, the shíshálh Nation is ready to go, like yesterday,” Kahlon said. “When I told them on Friday this was coming, they said they have a workforce ready, they have plans drawn up, and so I wouldn't be surprised that they're able to start early next year.”
"With each new home built through the Indigenous Housing Fund, we are taking meaningful action to address the critical need for culturally supportive shelter and foster a lasting vision of community and resilience for First Nations in British Columbia,” said Regional Chief Terry Teegee of the BC Assembly of First Nations in the release. “As the first of its kind fund in Canada to provide provincial investments for on-reserve housing, the Province of B.C. is leading by example on the collective effort needed to address this crisis which disproportionately impacts First Nations in British Columbia.”
Coast Reporter has reached out to shíshálh Nation for further information but had not received more details by press time.
Jordan Copp is the Coast Reporter’s civic and Indigenous affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
