Alberta and Ottawa put $13M into Indigenous housing projects across the province

The provincial and federal governments are committing $13.1 million for Indigenous housing projects in several cities and towns across Alberta.

In Edmonton, a 34-unit building will be purchased for Indigenous affordable housing. While in Calgary, Lac Ste. Anne and Victor Lake, Alta., which is near Grande Cache, 36 senior housing units will be built.

The province says all of the affordable housing units will be designed, delivered and owned by Indigenous peoples.

"This means that over 100 Indigenous families across the province of Alberta will have a new place to call home," said Ahmed Hussen, the Minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

"We're committed to addressing the barriers faced by Indigenous communities every single day and it starts [with] ensuring that the solutions for the community are provided by the community."

He adds that the project will create around 100 jobs.

"Our targeted investment will not only stimulate the economy and create well-paying jobs where they are needed the most, they will also ensure the needs of Indigenous families … are met," he said.

Cameron Alexis, the CEO of Tribal Chiefs Ventures, says this initiative will help Indigenous people find alternate housing solutions.

"Just recently we visited the downtown core of Edmonton and it is really painful to see our people on the streets. When we saw that, our chiefs signalled that we have to do something," he said.

"Collectively, we worked hard with the respective governments to do our part."

Alexis says the project is just the "beginning."