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SURREY, B.C. – The Province of British Columbia, BC Housing and Indigenous non-profit housing providers have partnered to provide 1,600 affordable rental homes to Indigenous people located in B.C.

The second set of homes selected through the Building BC: Indigenous Housing Fund (IHF) includes 41 on- and off-reserve projects that will provide 1,662 affordable rental homes, a provincial government release said. It includes 667 on-reserve homes for First Nations members and 995 off-reserve homes for Indigenous people.

“As the first of its kind fund in Canada to provide provincial investments for on-reserve housing, the Province of B.C. is leading by example on the collective effort needed to address this crisis which disproportionately impacts First Nations in British Columbia. By meeting the fundamental needs of families and Elders, both on and off reserve, we lay a strong foundation for people to thrive, while advancing our collective journey toward reconciliation,” BC Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Terry Teegee of the BC Assembly of First Nations said.

The announcement was made at the Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Centre in Surrey, one of the proponents receiving funding for 65 units of off-reserve housing for Indigenous families and Elders, the release said.

More information about specific projects, including funding amounts and development timelines, will be made public as they are finalized, the release added.

The IHF is a $1.7-billion provincial program administered by BC Housing with a goal of meeting the provincial government’s target of delivering 3,500 homes for Indigenous families, elders, individuals and people with disabilities on and off reserve.