Access to safe, adequate, affordable, and culturally appropriate housing is essential to the health and well-being of all Canadians. The federal government has recognized the right to adequate housing as a human right. However, Indigenous peoples in Canada are experiencing a well-known and long-lasting housing shortage. This report focuses on Indigenous peoples in Canada who live off reserve. Indigenous peoples living off reserve live in urban, rural, and northern areas and make up the majority of Indigenous peoples in Canada. Indigenous peoples living off reserve are a diverse group with different languages, cultures, and histories. Indigenous peoples all have a right to see their housing needs addressed systematically.

Like other Indigenous peoples in Canada, Indigenous peoples living off reserve face a shortage of safe, adequate, and affordable housing. They are more likely to be in core housing need than non-Indigenous people.  Indigenous peoples are also overrepresented among those experiencing homelessness. This serious housing situation is rooted in colonial, racist and other policies such as residential schools, and has been made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the health and well-being of Indigenous peoples is at risk.

Indigenous peoples are best placed to address the housing needs and priorities of their people and communities. Effective housing initiatives are Indigenous-led and support wrap-around services in addition to housing. They also build communities in urban, rural, and northern areas. However, Indigenous service providers in urban, rural, and northern areas often struggle with a lack of adequate funding to implement their solutions.

This report provides recommendations to support Indigenous-led housing initiatives. Recommendations include developing a national housing strategy for Indigenous peoples living in urban, rural, and northern areas. This strategy would require adequate, long-term, and sustainable funding. Finally, this report suggests steps to ensure federal government programs align more closely with the needs of Indigenous peoples living off reserve. Together, the Committee hopes that its recommendations will help to provide more Indigenous peoples living off reserve with access to a safe, culturally appropriate, and adequate home.