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On-reserve housing money starts to flow

Wednesday, 13 May 2009 14:36 Mark Kiemele
On-reserve housing money starts to flow

Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council nations are joining their counterparts across Canada in applying for funding for social housing construction and renovations projects.

The federal government announced in late April that the $400 million over two years promised in its budget earlier this year was available through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and Indian Affairs and Northern Development (INAC).

But despite looking like a large amount, First Nation leaders have said it is not nearly enough to address the serious on-reserve housing issues.

When the budget was announced, NmTC chair Terry Sampson said: “But so far, it looks like our share of the budget was very modest at best. Nowhere could I find many of the items that were included in the 2005 Kelowna Accord. And although the Government of Canada promised that First Nations would be included in the economic recovery, I am afraid that once again it may be too little.”

His statement was supported by BC’s First Nations Summit which said in January: “Today’s federal budget falls well short in committing the investments needed close the wide social and economic gaps faced by First Nations communities…”.

Assembly of First Nations national Chief Phil Fontaine said: “While we know First Nations continue to face serious housing challenges, we welcome

this necessary and wise new investment and we encourage all First Nations to improve their existing homes, build new homes and thereby create thousands of new jobs and skills in our communities.”

Of the $400 million over two years, there will be $125 million delivered through CMHC for creation of new on-reserve housing and another $125 million for repair and renovation of existing on-reserve social housing.

The remaining $150 million will be delivered by INAC for lot servicing, renovations, new construction of high-density multi-unit dwellings and renovations to support the conversion of band-owned housing to private ownership.

To access CMHC-specific funding, First Nations can send their submissions directly to their CMHC regional office. Applications and more information is available at: www.cmhc.ca/housingactionplan.

First Nations will receive an application package for INAC funding in the mail shortly and are encouraged to complete the application and expression-of-interest forms and return it to the INAC regional office.

 

 

Housing governance issues being addressed

Monday, 27 October 2008 12:15 Mark Kiemele
Housing governance issues being addressed Housing committees, housing lists, housing arrears, housing subsidies, housing maintenance, housing inspections…
Our Nations are growing due to rising birth rates and members being attracted ‘back home’ thanks to economic development initiatives. But as chiefs, councils and administrations deal with the impacts of that growth, one word keeps coming up – Housing.
That’s why Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council hosted a workshop in Snuneymuxw on housing governance issues earlier this year. Delegates from our Nations heard Glenn Lawson of Lawson Tessier and Associates talk not only about the complexity of First Nations housing issues, but offer some solutions.
“It may be complex, but it doesn’t have to be difficult,” Lawson told the delegates as he talked about how good governance can provide the foundation, with a structure built of sound housing policies, so that many of the problems that face our growing communities can begin to be solved.
Following the workshop, Tsleil-Waututh and Snuneymuxw decided to continue working with Lawson Tessier and NmTC offered support for their projects.
Nation snapshots
At first glance, TWN and SFN face widely different challenges.
TWN has about 400 members with about half of them living on just over 100 hectares of a reserve surrounded by the District of North Vancouver. While it is somewhat limited by its land base, TWN has plans in the works to create a new neighbourhood area. Also on the reserve is TWN’s major economic driver, the highly successful Ravenwoods development that has more than 800 condo and town home residences. And then there’s TWN’s groundbreaking plan for the 22,000-hectare Indian River watershed.
Meanwhile, SFN has more than 1,500 members with only about one-third living on four reserves. Many live on the crowded 22-hectare Number One reserve surrounded by the City of Nanaimo. Others live on more than 200 hectares on three rural reserves, about ten minutes away, and face a variety of infrastructure challenges. Two of those reserves have significant areas that are not band owned because of certificates of possession (CP lands). Nearby is one of SFN’s future economic drivers, the huge 300-hectare Sandstone commercial and residential joint-venture development.
But what they have in common is significant. Both Nations are dealing with growing young populations. The demand for adequate housing often leads the list of ‘live’ issues on reserve lands.
Building programs are underway. Housing committees are being reformed and revitalized. So too are housing policies. There is a very high need for maintenance and repair to existing housing stock. And there are serious rent arrears.
Getting down to work at TWN
Dale Komanchuk, who has been TWN’s director of administration and public works for more than a year, has been focusing on the variety housing challenges since he first started working for TWN as manager of lands.
He helped guide the adoption of the TWN Land Code that came into effect in June 2007. The code sets out the principles and administrative structure by which TWN exercises its authority over current and future reserve lands.“Even the tough stuff,” he said.

Foundations being laid for housing initiative

Tuesday, 08 July 2008 09:04 Mark Kiemele
Foundations being laid for housing initiative

Tsleil-Waututh First Nation is taking the lead in a unique pilot program designed to build effective and efficient housing program for Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council members.

NmTC hosted a two-day seminar on housing and governance at the Coast Bastion Hotel in Nanaimo in early April with a supplementary session held on May 7. Invitations went out to all councils and their housing committees and staff.

Attending the initial meetings were members from Tsleil-Waututh, Snuneymuxw, Sna-naw-as and Homalco.

Nicole Hajash, NmTC’s governance coordinator, said the idea for the seminar grew out of recommendations put forward by leaders at last fall’s governance workshop organized by the tribal council.

“We saw that we had a role to play in assisting our member nations develop good housing policies and proper housing programs,” she said. “The workshop was just the first stage.

“Now we will be assisting Tsleil-Waututh in accessing funding to address a number of housing issues such as cleaning up arrears, entering formal housing agreements and holding community meetings on these matters.”

She said that other NmTC nations are expected to request similar assistance in the coming months but that NmTC would like to see the results of the Tsleil-Waututh pilot before moving forward so that the same mistakes are not repeated in other communities.

Four pillars of housing

Leading the NmTC seminar was Glenn Lawson of Comox-based Lawson Tessier and Associates. His company has worked with a wide range of First Nations throughout BC over the past 17 years on housing and capital programs as well as economic development initiatives.

Lawson told the group that there were four essential pillars to having effective First Nation housing programs:
• Organization;
• Capital housing program;
• Operations; and
• Governance.

A good organization is key because it includes chiefs and councils, membership, housing committees and capital programs with all parties needing to be on the same page to carry out a housing mandate.

Planning is essential in any capital housing program, said Lawson, because: “By failing to plan, we plan to fail”. A number of factors are vital in order to plan well including an inventory of housing, engagement of community members, proper administrative procedures, inclusion of community planning and, of course, funding and financing for a housing program.

Operations include managing housing clients and assets as well as financial management and regular and accurate reporting to INAC and CMHC. Good communications is key to all areas and includes community meetings, tenant meetings, counseling programs, maintenance workshops, homeowners’ manuals and newsletters.

Good, sound governance is the foundation for any successful housing program. It is the responsibility of band leaders to put in place all the agreements, policies and procedures in order that a First Nation’s housing committee has the tools to carry out its job properly.

Lawson gave seminar participants templates that could be used to create terms of reference for a housing committee that included a mission statement, code of conduct and a sample band council resolution for approving terms of reference.

He also presented templates for housing agreements, housing application procedures and social housing allocation policies.

For more information, contact Nicole Hajash at (250) 753-0190 or nicoleh@nautsamawt.com

Housing strategy focus of new committee

Tuesday, 08 July 2008 09:03 Mark Kiemele

A plan for on- and off-reserve housing strategies in support of First Nations individuals and families is the first job of a committee being formed this summer.

The committee will be the first result of an agreement signed in mid-May by the First Nations Leadership Council, Canada, and British Columbia to work together to develop a comprehensive approach to improve housing.

"Nothing is more important to First Nations individuals than having a healthy, high-quality environment in which to live," said Chief Judith Sayers, a First Nations Summit Task Group member and Chief of Tseshaht First Nation. "For too long our people have lived in substandard, unhealthy homes which affect our physical and emotional well being. We need comprehensive, strategic action to address the critical housing crisis First Nations in BC are facing.”

Chuck Strahl, minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, said: “This historic agreement will help us find innovative and sustainable solutions to address the housing situation for First Nations people on and off reserve here in BC. All parties will focus in partnership, on both increasing the supply of safe and affordable housing.

“At the same time, we must work to enable First Nations peoples who seek opportunities in urban centres.”

New way to own your home on reserve

The $300 million fund to help First Nation people own homes on reserve lands now has money in the bank.

The First Nations Market Housing Fund, first announced by the federal government last year, was launched at the end of March and is being called a new and innovative way to give people the opportunity to own their own homes on reserve.

It’s estimated that the fund will see as many as 25,000 new homes built across the country over the next 10 years.

The new fund will establish what is called a “credit enhancement facility”. This will help people on reserves to obtain loans.

In order to access the loans, individual First Nations first have to meet certain criteria, such as an ability to manage their finances, loans and housing. Once a First Nation qualifies, it will make an arrangement with a lender to allow its members to obtain housing loans. The First Nation will guarantee the loan.
Lenders will review the value of the house, the borrower’s income and the borrower’s ability to repay a loan when their other expenses are considered. If a borrower meets the lender’s criteria, he or she would be approved for a loan.
The $300 million fund will provide partial financial backing for lenders. It can access the fund if the borrower fails to repay the loan and the First Nation does not honour its obligation to step in, using its own resources, to remedy the default.
The fund will also establish a development program to support First Nations. A First Nation that intends to move into or expand market-based housing could be eligible for the program.

For more information, go to www.fnmhf.ca or email info@fnmhf.ca or phone 1-866-582-2808.

Three Options to Own Your Own Home

Wednesday, 07 May 2008 09:34
Three Options to Own Your Own Home

Home ownership on reserve is becoming a reality with some First Nation members able to qualify for mortgages. In the following article, Gail Murray, of the Royal Bank of Canada, looks at options available to the prospective homeowner on reserve lands.

Owning a home is a very important goal for most Canadians.

A home is not only a secure permanent place for you and your family to live, but it is also a valuable investment in your future financial security.

This has been a long awaited opportunity for First Nations communities. It really hasn’t been until most recently that First Nations individuals have had choices in regards to mortgage programs on reserve.

At RBC, we are proud that we have created solutions that support home ownership on reserve. Despite the Indian Act, we can work together to make home ownership goals a reality. We have products for both personal and commercial mortgage offerings.

This article focuses on personal mortgages for status 'Indian' individuals. There are three major routes status people can take to get a mortgage through their bank and/or RBC:

Ministerial Guarantee (Section 10) - An individual can obtain a mortgage through a CMHC program. The First Nation provides a Ministerial guarantee. Housing designs are dictated by CMHC.

On Reserve Housing Loan Program - provides individual mortgages without CMHC involvement through a partnership with the First Nation. This allows for individual mortgages with flexible terms and no design restrictions (unless specified by the First Nation). This program only requires 2.5 per cent down payment and can be paid out over 25 years.

Leasehold Mortgage Program - this was recently developed by RBC for one self-governing Nation which provides mortgages to 'Indian' and non aboriginal individuals at that Nation. This is the first time a program of this nature was developed in Canada for this specific First Nation. RBC now looks forward to considering (on an individual basis) First Nations who are self governing or have implemented their own land code for qualification in this program. A 5 per cent down payment is required and the mortgage can be paid out over a maximum of 40 years.

While this all sounds very simple, each individual and the status of the land create many different scenarios. At the end of the day, the great news is that First Nation communities now have the ability to create their owns laws or develop policies, so their members can now get mortgages on their own.

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