b'ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTMARGARET PFOH It means that CEO, Aboriginal Housing all levels of Management AssociationVancouver government Our Indigenous communities resideneed to be in across all urban, rural and northerna collaborative regions of British Columbia and face distinct regional challenges when itsolutions-comes to economic developments. The Lower Mainland offers the mostfocused employment opportunities; however, because market value is so high, compa- approachnies and organizations struggle to retain and secure skilled staff.Then in the interior and the north,provincial, municipal, Indigenouseither the success or the failure of currently and in the past, housing hasleaders and all lead organizations these ventures.been a challenge, not only in the startingneed to be in a collaborative solu-phase of big projects, but also after thetions-focused approach: a collabora- The Aboriginal Housing Management project is done and has turned sometive partnership between communityAssociation, a CCAB member, is a not-communities into ghost towns. stakeholders and government tofor-profit Indigenous housing authority ensure that housing-related chal- that leverages the collective impact of The solution to such challenges mustlenges related to big economic devel- its membership to provide safe and be 360 in perspective. That meansopments dont affect the sustain- secure housing for Indigenous peoples that all levels of governmentfederal,ability of B.C. communities, afterin British Columbia.SHAYNE RAMSAY BC Housing recognizes that Indigenous people should be actively involved in CEO, BC Housing developing and determining housing Burnaby policies and programs affecting them on their land. Its working directly with Therearemanyfactorsimpactingthe Aboriginal Housing Management economic prosperity in IndigenousAssociation,Indigenousnon-profit communities, one of them being a lackhousing providers, First Nations, Mtis of affordable housing available in bothNation British Columbia, and non-profit on- and off-reserve lands. We recog- and for-profit developers who wish nize there has been a long-term trend ofto partner with Indigenous housing young people leaving reserve communi- providers and First Nations.ties, in part because of a lack of housing. We also acknowledge that IndigenousIn addition to funding under the new people are significantly over-representedIndigenous Housing Fund, Indigenous in B.C.s homeless population, whichorganizations and First Nations will be is an indication of how badly homes able to access provincial support under are needed.BC Housingall of BC Housings funding programs. To specifically address these challenges,recognizes thatThis provincial funding will begin to make in June 2018, British Columbia becamea difference, but we still have a long the first province in Canada to investIndigenous peopleway to go to ensure an adequate supply of good quality housing in Indigenous provincial housing funds into on-reserveshould be activelycommunities across B.C.housing. The Building BC: Indigenous Housing Fund is an investment of $550involved inBC Housing, a CCAB Procurement million over the next 10 years to build and operate 1,750 new units of socialhousing policiesChampion and PAR Gold member, is a housing both on- and off-reserve. Theprovincial crown agency that develops, program is aimed at Indigenous families,and programsmanages and administers a wide range seniors, individuals and persons withof subsidized housing options across a disability.affecting them British Columbia. 36A CCAB PUBLICATION2019'