M-56 Indigenous social housing

That the House:

(a) recognize that,

(i) 3,000 new units of rapid housing is not enough when over 235,000 individuals experience homelessness in Canada each year, combined with additional strain brought on by the pandemic,

(ii) Indigenous peoples are 11 times more likely to use a homeless shelter,

(iii) people living in poverty face the greatest barriers for following public health measures and are disproportionately affected by COVID-19,

(iv) the 2017 National Housing Strategy nor any subsequent policy provided specific funding or policies for urban or rural and Indigenous housing; and

(b) call on the government to,

(i) implement an Indigenous-led urban, rural and northern Indigenous strategy,

(ii) accelerate action on Indigenous homelessness,

(iii) increase the supply of stable, safe, affordable housing by building 73,000 new units of housing for urban, rural and northern Indigenous peoples as called for by the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association,

(iv) create a dedicated rapid housing stream for rural, urban and northern Indigenous peoples to provide winter shelter and a place to isolate from COVID-19,

(v) provide support for tenants’ well-being and long-term success with wraparound Indigenous services.