City of Calgary grants $33M to Indigenous Housing Program

Calgary's 109-year-old Historic City Hall is seen on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

There are up to 379 new affordable housing units coming to Indigenous people in Calgary soon thanks to the city’s Indigenous Housing Program.

On Monday, the City of Calgary revealed the recipients of the financial award — known as Maa’toomaa’taapii Aoko’iyii’piaya in Blackfoot — which was first announced last year.

Through the program, $33 million will be split between 16 Indigenous nations and Indigenous-led non-profits to build new non-market homes over 24 projects.

It’s the city’s largest-ever investment in Indigenous housing, Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas said in a news release.

For Indigenous populations in Calgary, the investment represents a meaningful step forward for their community members.

“Sikiska Nation is both excited and grateful for this announcement,” said Chief Samual Crowfoot. “With nearly half our Nation’s membership living off-reserve — many who live in Calgary — this project will have a meaningful and lasting impact on our members and their families.”

Of the projects selected, five will receive $20.2 million to build 147 housing units. Four more projects will receive $10.6 million to purchase land to build up to 232 homes on.

All of them will receive up to 40 per cent of eligible capital costs for building those housing projects.

Fifteen more projects will split $2.3 million to “build capacity for non-profit organizations” to develop housing in the future over two years.