B.C. to build more than 1,500 homes for Indigenous people

The province says more than 1,500 new homes for Indigenous people are coming to B.C.

The B.C. government says the new homes will be built for Indigenous people on and off-reserve in a partnership with BC Housing and non-profit housing providers.

Provincial Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon says the 1,662 new homes are part of ongoing reconciliation work to ensure Indigenous people have resources and services to thrive in their communities.

“This will mean housing: affordable housing for elders. This will mean affordable housing for people and communities. This will mean opportunities for people to come back to their communities and reconnect with families,” said Kahlon.

The announcement involves 41 projects that will be built through the Indigenous Housing Fund, providing almost 1,000 homes off reserve and the rest on reserves.

Kevin Kelly, an ambassador for the Kwantlen First Nation, says though he’s pleased with the news, it’s important to remember why not every Indigenous person lives on a reserve.

“I would say the people that are urbanized, they’re not here because they want to be. Sometimes it’s a lack of housing. Sometimes they’re going to university,” said Kelly.

The $1.7 billion government fund has a target of delivering 3,500 homes for Indigenous people.

“It’s important that we get housing for our people too. They deserve this too. They have a right to have housing,” said Kelly.

The province says BC Housing is working with successful applicants, including Indigenous non-profit housing providers and First Nations, to continue the projects through the development process.

It says more information about specific projects, including development timelines, will be made public when finalized