b'HOUSINGChippewas of Nawash HousingProject has Canada-Wide PotentialBy Jay ThakarANawashbring Habitat together with ChippewasThe Habitat Canada Indigenous Housing housing partnership between the Chippewas of of Nawash and CMHC through our On- Partnership helps improve living Unceded First Nation, HabitatReserve Non-Profit Housing Program. conditions for Indigenous families, both for Humanity Grey Bruceon and off Traditional Territories, and and the Canada Mortgage and HousingThree Partners, One Shared Vision offers construction skills training for Corporation (CMHC) is so successfulThe federal government, throughIndigenous youth. With the help of local that it promises to serve as a model forthe CMHCs On-Reserve Non-ProfitHabitats across the country, 221 families other interested Indigenous communitiesHousing Program, provides financialhave achieved homeownership through across Canada. assistance to First Nation governments,the partnership.First Nation development corporations There has been an unbelievable responseand First Nation housing providers toFamilies applied using Habitats from other First Nations. I have beenbuild new housing, renovate existingfamily selection criteria, and the homes invited to speak at conferences, andhousing and provide rent supplementswere purchased under a deferred people approach me to find out how toin newly constructed units. Partneringhomeownership, or a rent-to-own adopt this housing model, said Shanewith CMHC enables Habitat to servemodel, with the mortgages held by the Chegahno, the Chippewas of Nawashmore families because CMHC is theBand, rather than Habitat for Humanity. Housing Manager. All First Nations careprimary funder. The new Habitat homeowners also deeply about our children, and healthyworked alongside teams of volunteers.homes are key to their future. We wantWe are the first local Habitat to help offer this housing model to allorganization to partner with CanadaAt first, the thought of putting in 500 hours First Nations. Mortgage and Housing Corporationseems overwhelming. But when you realize in this unique partnership project,youre part of a team, you draw strength The Chippewas of Nawash Uncededsaid Greg Fryer, Executive Director offrom that. Its a real feeling of community, First Nation is on the eastern shoreHabitat for Humanity Grey Bruce. Thesaid Josie, who, with her husband, Tim, is of the Saugeen (Bruce) Peninsula onCMHC funding allowed the Chippewasone of the new Habitat homeowners. Georgian Bay, Ontario. Four familiesof Nawash to contract us to do the build.New Homes are Just Parttook possession of their new homes inWe put together a quote, which includedof the StoryNovember of 2018.an estimate for gift-in-kind. Many Indigenous communities face This project can be viewed as a pilotConstruction started in early July 2018,housing challenges like overcrowding and that has the potential to be rolled outand the four 1,200-square-foot, three- poor air and water quality. Josies former across Canada, said Sandra Hails, abedroom bungalows were finished atrental had mould that she said left her First Nations housing specialist withthe end of November 2018. Volunteersfeeling defeated. Her 13-year-old CMHC, which is a Crown corporation offrom inside and outside the communitydaughter, Malia, couldnt sleep through the Government of Canada. Habitatand donations from more than 60the night. Since moving into their new for Humanity has a lot of expertise inbusinesses and organizations were key tohome, Malia has been sleeping through this area, and it seemed a natural fit tothis success. the night and is happier at school.92 The Circle Winter Issue 1 2019'