Initiatives
Recent Housing Initiatives
Since 1999, the federal, provincial and municipal levels of government have invested $11.1 million in the city of Winnipeg in “affordable” housing programs through the Winnipeg Housing and Homelessness Initiative (WHHI). Non-Aboriginal housing groups have received $10.8 million from the WHHI and urban Aboriginal housing groups have received less that $300,000. Urban Aboriginal housing organizations have not been included by the federal and provincial governments in the most recent era of housing renewal in the inner city of Winnipeg.
Funding Imbalance of WHHI Affordable Housing Program
The main reason why the urban Aboriginal housing groups have not been involved in recent housing initiatives is that the present programs do not address the needs of Aboriginal families on low and fixed incomes. The $20 million federal homelessness funding that has been allocated to Winnipeg over the past 4 years builds shelters and not family housing. This program does not meet the needs of families on low and fixed incomes.
The “affordable” housing program is not affordable for families on low and fixed incomes. The average monthly housing charge for rent and utilities for the “affordable” housing program is $750 per month. The average family income of a single parent family in the Centennial inner city neighbourhood in Winnipeg which has the highest percentage of Aboriginal residents according to the 2001 census was $16,720. Based on 30% of their income, these families could only afford $418 each month for rent and utilities.
A recent First Nations/Metis/Inuit Mobility Study for Winnipeg that was done by the Institute of Urban Studies for the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and Manitoba Metis Federation indicated that 75% of Aboriginal single parent families had an income under $15,000. According to federal government housing affordability standards, they could only afford $375 per month for rent and utilities. It is clear that a significant number of Aboriginal families are not eligible for the new “affordable” housing that is being built by the Winnipeg Housing and Homelessness Initiative.
“Affordable Housing” Rent Gap
WHHI Monthly Rent and Rent Affordability Ceilings
Based on 2001 Census Data and Mobility Study