Winnipeg Housing and Homelessness Initiative Aboriginal Housing Support through the Housing Rehabilitation Investment Reserve
Planning, Property and Development Department contact:
Dave Dessens
Winnipeg Housing Policy Coordinator
Phone: 204-940-3074
The Winnipeg Housing and Homelessness Initiative (WHHI) is a partnership established by the Government of Canada, the Province of Manitoba and the City of Winnipeg to address homelessness, declining housing stock and the revitalization of Winnipeg’s older neighbourhoods. Funding from the City is available for rehabilitation of affordable housing through the Housing Rehabilitation Investment Reserve (HRIR), which is administered through the City’s WHHI Branch.
The City currently has five programs that are supported through the HRIR funds. These programs are the Housing Plans and Advocacy Program, the Neighbourhood Housing Program, the Minimum Home Repair Program, the Development Cost Offset Program, and the Downtown Housing Program. These funds are allocated for specific neighbourhoods designated as Housing Improvement Zones, which are Spence, West Broadway, William Whyte and North Point Douglas. Downtown is also eligible for funding, contingent on allocation of funds for the area.
Although no specific program has been established for Aboriginal housing, the city has recognized the need for immediate support and for development of a new program. In 2004, the city through WHHI provided a total of $182,000 in support of Aboriginal housing from the HRIR, as follows:
- $15,000 was provided to the Manitoba Urban Native Housing Association (MUNHA) to support its operation and capacity building. MUNHA also requested annual operating grants from the federal Urban Aboriginal Strategy program ($50,000), from Canada Mortgage and Housing ($25,000), from the Province of Manitoba ($25,000), and from the Winnipeg Foundation ($10,000).
- $60,000 was provided to three Aboriginal housing organizations for rehabilitation of existing housing provided to Aboriginal people. Kinew Housing Inc., Kanata Housing Corporation and Aiyawin Housing Corporation each received $20,000 for repairs to housing within Winnipeg, regardless of location. As properties were currently in housing portfolios, they were not eligible for additional funding through the federal/provincial Affordable Housing Initiative (AHI).
- $92,000 was provided to Kinew Housing Inc. from funding allocated for the North Point Douglas neighbourhood for rehabilitation of housing held by Kinew in that neighbourhood. This proposal was endorsed by the local housing stakeholders’ network, and was not eligible for additional funding through AHI.
- $15,000 was provided to Kinew Housing Inc. from funding allocated for the William Whyte neighbourhood for rehabilitation of housing held by Kinew in that neighbourhood. This proposal was endorsed by the local housing stakeholders’ network, and was not eligible for additional funding through AHI.
In 2005, City Council approved $200,000 for Aboriginal Housing through the HRIR in its 2005 Operating Budget. WHHI is working cooperatively with representatives from MUNHA to propose an appropriate program for distributing these funds. WHHI proposes that MUNHA coordinate a network of local aboriginal stakeholders to advise the city regarding use of funds, which may include development of a housing plan, rehabilitation of existing properties, development of new housing, and other housing support related to Aboriginal housing in Winnipeg. A draft program for this funding is forthcoming.
