New housing on the way for Blackfoot families
2022-10-04

This unique project will provide 14 safe and stable housing units for Blackfoot women and their children who are relocating from the Kainai, Siksika and Piikani reserves.

The homes will provide more affordable options and represent a new start for women and their children who may be starting new jobs, attending school or leaving difficult circumstances.

Federal Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion Ahmed Hussen and Alberta Seniors and Housing Minister Josephine Pon offered their congratulations on behalf of the federal and provincial governments. Lethbridge-East MLA Nathan Neudorf took part in a sod-turning ceremony for the $3.4-million project on behalf of Minister Pon.

“Everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. This announcement marks the completion of Blackfoot Lodge in Lethbridge, which is already making a positive impact in the community. Blackfoot women and their children who are relocating from the Kainai, Siksika and Piikani reserves now have a safe and affordable place to call home so they can start rebuilding their lives. This is the National Housing Strategy at work.”

Ahmed Hussen, federal Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion

“The Indigenous Housing Capital Program is helping Blackfoot women and their children access the affordable housing they need to begin new chapters in their lives. Our program is designed to support specialized, community-focused projects like this one and provide housing that is delivered and owned by, and for, Indigenous Peoples.”

Josephine Pon, Minister of Seniors and Housing

“Every Albertan deserves an affordable, accessible and safe place to call home. Building and operating more homes off-reserve in urban areas is a critical step to help protect those who are trying to escape from difficult situations or begin a new chapter in their lives. Our government is proud to support these 14 new units.”

Rick Wilson, Minister of Indigenous Relations

“No relationship is more important to our government than the one with Indigenous Peoples. We are committed to supporting better housing outcomes for all Indigenous communities and are creating safe and affordable homes across the country for those in housing need. Together with our partners, we are listening to and working with Indigenous stakeholders to create culturally appropriate housing from coast to coast to coast. This is one of the ways our government’s National Housing Strategy is providing housing for people in Lethbridge.”

George Chahal, MP for Calgary-Skyview

“We are working hard to improve the living conditions for women and children leaving difficult circumstances across Alberta and here in Lethbridge. Brand new, safe and affordable homes like these are a foundation for good health and prosperity, and I know they will make a big difference for the families who need them. This is the Indigenous Housing Capital Program at work. Thank you to all the partners for making this critical project a reality.

Nathan Neudorf, MLA for Lethbridge-East

“This is an opportunity long overdue. Thanks to the partnership and collaboration of all who were involved in this project in seeing it through. Now families who want to come into the city have the extra support in resources and a place to start.”

Lance Tailfeathers, chair, Blackfoot Family Lodge Society

In Alberta, funding for this project is provided through the Indigenous Housing Capital Program (IHCP), which supports Indigenous governments and communities to build affordable off-reserve, off-settlement and on-settlement housing, where it is needed. The program ensures a flexible, autonomous approach, and encourages public and private developers to partner with Indigenous governments and organizations.

Federal funding for IHCP is provided through the 10-year bilateral housing agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta, announced in spring 2019.

IHCP applications are accepted on a continuous basis and are available at alberta.ca/ihcp.

Quick facts

  • Alberta’s Capital Plan 2022 includes $20.7 million in additional funding over three years for the IHCP.

  • The project will create about 25 jobs.

  • Alberta Seniors and Housing’s Capital Plan 2022 allocates $281 million over three years to provide 2,300 new and regenerated affordable housing units while maintaining the 26,700-unit provincially owned portfolio and creating more than 1,700 jobs.

  • Announced in 2019, the 10-year bilateral agreement between the governments of Canada and Alberta, under the National Housing Strategy (NHS), will invest $678 million to protect, renew and expand social and community housing, and support Alberta’s priorities related to housing repair, construction and affordability.

  • Canada's National Housing Strategy (NHS) is a 10-year
    $72-plus billion plan that will give more Canadians a place to call home.

  • The NHS is built on strong partnerships between the federal, provincial and territorial governments, and continuous engagement with others, including municipalities, Indigenous governments and organizations, and the social and private housing sectors. This includes consultations with Canadians from all walks of life, and people with lived experience of housing need.

  • All NHS investments delivered by the federal, provincial, and territorial governments will respect the key principles of the NHS that support partnerships, people, and communities.

Associated links

The Alberta Ministry of Seniors and Housing fosters the development of affordable housing and supports access to housing options for Albertans most in need. The ministry works with seniors, their families and caregivers, Albertans who require housing supports, and communities and other government partners. A more detailed description of the ministry and its programs and initiatives can be found at alberta.ca/ministry-seniors-housing.aspx.

Learn more about Alberta’s affordable housing programs.

As Canada’s authority on housing, CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need, and offers unbiased housing research and advice to all levels of Canadian government, consumers, and the housing industry. CMHC’s aim is that by 2030, everyone in Canada has a home they can afford, and that meets their needs. For more information, please visit cmhc.ca or follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook.

To find out more about the National Housing Strategy, visit www.placetocallhome.ca

Editor's Note: This news release was also issued by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation on Oct. 4, 2022

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