Urban Indigenous housing experts call on the Province of BC to designate HEART and HEARTH funding equitably
Press Release
March 6, 2025
Unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, Vancouver BC (March 5, 2025) – As members of the Aboriginal Housing Management Association (known as AHMA), housing societies across BC do incredible work to provide safe, affordable, culturally supportive homes and services for urban Indigenous people.
“Our members have highly successful long-term outcomes in keeping Indigenous people stably housed,” said Margaret Pfoh, CEO of the Aboriginal Housing Management Association (AHMA). “Still, we are confronted by a stark reality: between 40 and 80 percent of those experiencing homelessness across BC are Indigenous. That statistic is a reflection of decades of systemic poverty, discrimination, and colonial oppression that have unjustly disadvantaged Indigenous Peoples.”
Every sector—be it public safety, healthcare, or justice—acknowledges that housing is the cornerstone of reducing poverty and solving many complex issues. When individuals and families have stable, secure housing, we see improvements in public safety, better mental health outcomes, and reduced rates of addiction and recidivism.
“We hope to see an equitable portion of the HEART and HEARTH dollars in BC Budget 2025 designated for Indigenous-led societies, who are working on the frontline of preventing homelessness with trauma-informed solutions,” said Pfoh. “We recognize that the BC government is under enormous economic pressure. At the same time, the incoming tariffs, like the pandemic, will impact those who have the least the most.”
The Budget 2025 initiatives that will continue to benefit British Columbians most include investments in healthcare, education, and social services. AHMA welcomes the recent investments in the BC Builds Program, and the much-needed enhancements to RAP and SAFER. AHMA also celebrates the funding that has been dedicated to enhancing supports for people living in encampments, the allocations to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through CLBC, as well as the funding to enhance access to health, mental health, and substance use services.
The BC government can magnify the impact of its housing strategy by:
- Funding AHMA’s URN Indigenous Housing Strategy for BC, which prioritizes those most vulnerable to housing precarity and living in poverty across our province, including Indigenous people who are 13 times more likely than non-Indigenous people to experience homelessness.
- Prioritizing Indigenous-led organizations in the HEART and HEARTH programs, and ensuring Indigenous-led wraparound supports for people living in encampments, including village-like housing options for encampment communities.
“This is not about handouts or even a hand up, this is about our capacity as For Indigenous, By Indigenous housing experts to support overall community well-being and economic stability as evidenced by our work,” said Pfoh.
Urban, Rural and Northern or ‘URN’ describes those who are Indigenous but not living on reserve or in connection with traditional cultural home communities. Approximately 74% of the Indigenous population in BC does not qualify for the support that is provided for those living on reserve.
“Urban Indigenous people often face discrimination when trying to access the scant affordable rentals available, which is why AHMA is so important,” adds Pfoh. “AHMA will continue to offer our expertise and partnership to the Province to work together on implementing equitable solutions.”
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Media contact:
Kelly Moon
AHMA Communications Manager
communications@ahma-bc.org
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