Response to Ontario’s Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy Update July 2015

ABOUT THE ONTARIO FEDERATION OF INDIGENOUS FRIENDSHIP CENTRES The OFIFC is a provincial Aboriginal organisation representing the collective interests of twenty-eight member Friendship Centres located in towns and cities throughout Ontario. The vision of the Aboriginal Friendship Centre Movement is to improve the quality of life for Aboriginal people living in an urban environment by supporting self-determined activities which encourage equal access to, and participation in, Canadian society and which respects Aboriginal cultural distinctiveness. The OFIFC administers a number of wholistic, culture-based programs and initiatives which are delivered by local Friendship Centres in areas such as justice, children and youth, health, family support, housing, long term care, healing and wellness, education, and employment and training. Friendship Centres respond to the needs of tens of thousands of community members requiring culture-based and culturally-appropriate services every day. The Friendship Centres represent the most significant off-reserve Aboriginal service infrastructure across Ontario and are dedicated to achieving greater participation of all urban Aboriginal people in all facets of society, inclusive of First Nation – Status/Non-Status, Métis, Inuit and all other people who identify as Aboriginal. The OFIFC manages $45 million in direct delivery funding across the province, not taking into account the direct resources procured by Friendship Centres at the community level.1

KEY FACTS: 

84.1 percent of Aboriginal people in Ontario live off-reserve. (Statistics Canada. (2011) National Household Survey.)

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Between 2006 and 2011, Ontario’s Aboriginal population grew five times faster than the non-Aboriginal population, increasing 24.3 percent compared to 4.8 percent. (Ministry of Finance. (2013). 2011 National Household Survey Highlights: Factsheet 3.)

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The average income of Aboriginal people in Ontario is about $27,944 compared to $39,655 for nonAboriginal people. (Statistics Canada. (2006). Census of the Population.)

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36 percent of off-reserve Aboriginal children under the age of 6 live in poverty compared to 19 percent of non-Aboriginal children. (Statistics Canada. (2008). Aboriginal Children’s Survey, 2006: Supporting Data Tables.)

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In many cases, urban Aboriginal families are spending 50 percent, or more, of their income on housing as rental prices continue to rise to unaffordable amounts. (OFIFC, OMAA and ONWA. (2007). Urban Aboriginal Task Force (UATF) Final Report.)

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Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres., Annual Report 2012/2013 (Toronto, ON: Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres, 2013) 47.

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THE CHALLENGES AND POTENTIAL OF URBAN ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES IN ONTARIO Access to affordable, safe and adequate housing is a basic human need, recognised by the United Nations and the Ontario Commission for Human Rights, and an integral aspect of healthy communities that enables individuals to be contributing members of society. However, decades of negligence towards the creation of affordable housing has meant that urban Aboriginal people living on low incomes and/or social assistance have extremely limited options with respect to obtaining safe and affordable housing, in particular youth. Urban Aboriginal people experience homelessness at a disproportionate rate and make up a substantial portion of the homeless populations in cities, with research showing that urban Aboriginal people are eight times more likely to experience homelessness than non-Aboriginal people.2 Increasing numbers of urban Aboriginal people are at risk of or are currently homeless. This is likely a result of the lack of available affordable housing, in particular social housing - which, in Timmins, has a waiting list in most cases of at least three years, and in some extreme cases over twenty years.3 Housing First policy priorities also exacerbate supports available to homeless or at-risk populations. As the youngest and fastest growing population in Ontario, urban Aboriginal people are significantly affected by inadequate housing and related support services. According to the 2011 National Household Survey, 84.1 percent of Aboriginal people in Ontario now reside off-reserve in towns, cities and rural communities. The Aboriginal population is growing at nearly double the rate of the non-Aboriginal population, 1.8 percent compared to 1 percent.4 In many cases, urban Aboriginal families are spending 50 percent, or more, of their income on housing as rental prices continue to rise to unaffordable amounts.5 In 2011, 34.7 percent of off-reserve Aboriginal renter households experience incidences of core housing need6, well-above the national average of 12.5 percent.7

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The Homeless Hub, Aboriginal Peoples, The Homeless Hub. http://www.homelesshub.ca/abouthomelessness/population-specific/aboriginal-peoples. 3 SHS Consulting., City of Timmins – Community Housing Plan (Timmins, ON: SHS Consulting, 2014) 65. 4 Jeanette Steffler, “Aboriginal Peoples: A Young Population for Years to Come,” Hope or Heartbreak: Aboriginal youth and Canada’s future. Horizons: Policy Research Initiative, 10(1) (2008): 14. 5 Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres, Ontario Métis Aboriginal Association, Ontario Native Women’s Association., Urban Aboriginal Task Force: Final Report (Toronto, ON: Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres, Ontario Métis Aboriginal Association, Ontario Native Women’s Association, 2007) 35. 6 A household is in core housing need if it cannot access acceptable local market housing without spending 30% or more of its before-tax income on shelter and does not meet one or more of the adequacy, suitability or affordability standards. 7 Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation., Canadian Housing Observer 2014 (Ottawa, ON: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, 2014) I-5.

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Young households, between ages 15 to 29, have a higher rate of core housing need, 15.1 percent compared to their share of all households, 9.4 percent.8 Considering that Aboriginal people in Ontario have a significantly lower median age than the nonAboriginal population, 24.5 compared to 37.2 and that more than 50 percent of Ontario’s Aboriginal population is under the age of twenty-seven,9 Aboriginal youth are likely to experience core housing needs at an even higher rate than non-Aboriginal youth. In fact, Friendship Centres have observed an increase in youth homelessness, and a growing number of urban Aboriginal youth without a fixed address and a high rate of youth ‘couch surfing’. In some instances, Aboriginal youth are forced to leave their home because of family violence and/or addictions and substance abuse or become homeless as they age out of care. Youth in care, in some cases, lack the basic life skills and the necessary support networks to make successful transitions out of care. At the same time these youth experience difficulty finding employment and have a lower rate of high school completion, only 44 per cent of youth in and from care graduate from high school compared to 82 per cent of Ontario youth not in care.10 Targeted support for urban Aboriginal people, specifically the growing youth population must be a priority for Ontario’s update of the Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy. Discrimination and racism is a substantial barrier facing urban Aboriginal people seeking affordable housing, forcing many into inadequate and frequently over-priced accommodation – or into homelessness. Despite human rights legislation, urban Aboriginal communities continue to experience overt racism, discrimination and complacency creating barriers in obtaining affordable housing. Urban Aboriginal people are at a higher risk of poverty, family breakdown, illness, and homelessness as a result of experiencing discrimination.11 Reducing the socio-economic gap between the urban Aboriginal population and the non-Aboriginal population will require a sustained provincial investment to ensure equal access to affordable housing. Urban Aboriginal people represent a critical population that, with adequate investments in culturally-appropriate wholistic housing supports and access to other tangential services such as mental health, training, and employment, can contribute to Ontario’s labour market. By the end of 2017, Aboriginal people will represent 3.4% of Canada’s working population, reaching almost one million workers. As the skilled housing sector’s workforce moves into retirement, Aboriginal people can be targeted to fill labour

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Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation., Canadian Housing Observer 2014 (Ottawa, ON: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, 2014). I-8. 9 Government of Ontario, Breaking the Cycle: Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Strategy (Toronto, ON: 2008) 15. 10 Ministry of Children and Youth Services., Blueprint for Fundamental Change to Ontario’s Child Welfare System: Final Report of the Youth Leaving Care Working Group (Toronto, ON: Ministry of Children and Youth Services, 2013) 3. 11 Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres, Métis Nation of Ontario, Ontario Native Women’s Association., Ontario Urban and Rural First Nations, Métis and Inuit Housing Policy Framework (Toronto, ON: Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres, Ontario Native Women’s Association, Métis Nation of Ontario , 2013) 13.

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shortages. The integration of Aboriginal housing development with employment and training programs would support the growth of the Aboriginal workforce.12

OUR POSITION A Sustainable Supply of Affordable Housing Long-term funding commitments are required by all levels of government to create a sustainable supply of affordable housing. The federal and provincial governments must cooperatively and collaboratively support and improve social housing infrastructure throughout Ontario communities for urban Aboriginal people by investing in the maintenance of existing housing stock and the building of new stock. The conclusion of the Social Housing Operating Agreement will undoubtedly impact the supply and maintenance of affordable housing in Ontario. In 2014, the federal government spent approximately $1.7 billion representing a reduction in spending of almost one-third from the 1990s, with operating agreements set to fully expire over the next 20 years.13 The declining federal spending in social housing will mean that housing providers must survive solely on generated revenues and will be hard-pressed to continue rent-geared-to-income (RGI) housing supports. Housing providers serving urban Aboriginal households with a high proportion of people with low income levels and in need of extensive RGI subsidies are especially vulnerable to the end of operating agreements.14 It has been estimated that once all operating agreements expire, around 2040, the federal, provincial and territorial governments will save about $3.5 billion annually.15 The federal and provincial government should reinvest the saved revenue from the cancelling of the operating agreements into increasing housing and homelessness supports. A recent economic analysis of Toronto Community Housing found that by 2023 in Toronto alone, the majority of units will fail to meet basic standards of housing,16 reflecting the current status of social housing throughout Ontario. In some Friendship Centre communities, affordable housing units are left empty in unlivable conditions due to the lack of funding available to make repairs and perform ongoing maintenance. Research demonstrates that federal and provincial governments could more than Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres, Métis Nation of Ontario, Ontario Native Women’s Association., Ontario Urban and Rural First Nations, Métis and Inuit Housing Policy Framework (Toronto, ON: Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres, Ontario Native Women’s Association, Métis Nation of Ontario , 2013). 11. 13 Stephen Gaetz, Tanya Gulliver, and Tim Richter, “The State of Homelessness in Canada 2014,” The Homeless Hub Press (2014). 4. 14 Carole O’Brien, Fast Facts: The expiration of operating agreements in social housing, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. 2001. Accessed: https://www.policyalternatives.ca/publications/commentary/fastfacts-expiration-of-operating-agreements-social-housing. 15 Ibid. 16 Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis., Socio-Economic Analysis: Value of Toronto Community Housing’s 10-Year Capital Investment Plan (Toronto, ON: Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis, 2015). 12

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recoup initial investments when placed in community housing infrastructure. According to a study of Toronto Community Housing, an $860 million investment by both the federal and provincial government would, over 30 years, result in $18 billion in GDP; $5 billion in private capital investment; $4.5 billion in tax revenue, nearly three times their combined initial contribution; and create 220,000 employment years to support these projects.17 Smaller and rural municipalities are more likely to face challenges in maintaining sufficient affordable housing stock. Investments in social housing infrastructure aligns well with the focus on economic growth and job creation evident in both the 2015 federal and provincial budgets. Recognising that the legal and jurisdictional context of Aboriginal housing is complex and inconsistent, Canada continues to delegate urban and rural Aboriginal housing to the provinces. While Ontario has developed a provincial housing strategy, there is no urban Aboriginal specific housing policy. Despite the success of urban Aboriginal led and designed programs such as the First Nation, Inuit, Métis Urban and Rural Housing Program (FIMUR), urban Aboriginal housing continues to suffer as a result of inconsistent funding, management, and jurisdiction.18 Urban Aboriginal housing is threatened by aging housing stock, poor construction methods, culturally unsafe policies and the devolution of housing programs to 47 municipal service managers across Ontario.19 While some municipal service managers are developing innovative housing supports for community members, the majority of municipal service managers are unable to meet local demand for housing support due to a lack of resources. In most Friendship Centre communities, housing supports are available for at least one targeted demographic, often women and children. However, this is achieved at the expense of other groups – namely youth and men, and even in communities with services for women and children, there are high instances of overcrowding and long waitlists. In some cases, a lack of available housing stock results in the relocation of housing insecure individuals. Friendship Centres have reported to the OFIFC, that youth, men and sometimes seniors are more likely to leave the community in order to obtain housing. Increased support for urban Aboriginal specific housing is needed from the provincial and federal governments. The development of new housing stock, specifically transitional and supportive housing, must be considered in addition to maintaining existing social and affordable housing stock. Excess land held by the Government of Ontario should be made available at reduced cost for the development of new affordable housing stock, including school buildings and lands that are no longer in operation. 17

Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis., Socio-Economic Analysis: Value of Toronto Community Housing’s 10-Year Capital Investment Plan (Toronto, ON: Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis, 2015). 18 Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres, Métis Nation of Ontario, Ontario Native Women’s Association., Ontario Urban and Rural First Nations, Métis and Inuit Housing Policy Framework (Toronto, ON: Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres, Ontario Native Women’s Association, Métis Nation of Ontario , 2013) 7. 19Ibid. 15.

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A Fair System of Housing Assistance Whole System Management Approach A fair system of housing assistance recognises the continuum of housing supports that are needed by at-risk community members. The Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy must acknowledge the need for investment and commitment to housing supports across the full continuum from homelessness prevention services and shelter services to housing-ready supports and transitional housing to affordable rentals and assisted home ownership. Figure 1 highlights the various housing supports needed to increase the housing standards and experiences of urban Aboriginal people as described in the Ontario Urban and Rural First Nations, Métis and Inuit Housing Policy Framework.

A housing system management approach should include both crisis intervention and housing stock development. The implementation of Housing First policy priorities by both the provincial and federal government as evidenced in Ontario’s Housing Policy Statement and the federally renewed Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) have been problematic for Friendship Centre programs and urban Aboriginal community members. In most communities, there are simply not enough affordable housing units available to support urban Aboriginal people obtain housing. Housing First priorities have also exacerbated the provision of crisis intervention housing services at Friendship Centres and other organisations. In many communities, tangential services that support individuals seeking housing have been reduced or eliminated. As a result of the federal government’s Housing First policy priorities, requirements under the HPS have narrowed the eligible population to include only people who are currently homeless or imminently at risk of homelessness (within the next 60 days). This change will impact community members in poverty, not homeless or at imminent risk, but who rely on Friendship Centre services to supplement their food security challenges; in some northern communities Friendship Centres are the only providers of food bank services. The provincial government should be cautious when implementing a Housing First approach and ensure investments are made in both affordable housing and homelessness prevention and crisis intervention services. Increasing capacity of urban Aboriginal communities is critical to reducing poverty and improving socioeconomic conditions.

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In order to ensure a fair system of housing assistance is available to all who need it, each level of government must take greater ownership and accountability for their role in building and sustaining social housing. The current and impending funding environment, as a result of the expiration of Social Housing Operating Agreements and Housing First directives has led to an environment commanded by individual organisation resource protection. The government must work diligently to support the affordable housing sector and foster a collaborative relationship amongst organisations. The provincial, federal and municipal governments should commit to meaningful collaboration and sustained funding for a new long-term framework to tackle housing needs across the province that builds upon existing successful interventions and encourages new innovative approaches following the end of Social Housing Operating Agreements. A new framework must develop unique strategies that address regional differences and specifically northern Ontario, where adequate housing is especially lacking.20 A specific framework for supporting urban Aboriginal people must also be adopted and implemented. This framework could be based on the Ontario Urban and Rural First Nations, Métis and Inuit Housing Policy Framework developed by the OFIFC, Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) and the Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA). Provincial Standards and Accountability It is imperative that affordable housing strategies are locally driven to ensure that supports available are accessible and meet the needs of community members, as required in Ontario’s Housing Services Act. It is imperative that the needs of urban Aboriginal people are included in their community’s Housing and Homelessness Plans implemented by municipal service managers. At the same time, a certain level of consistency should be maintained by the provincial government to ensure basic standards are met across the province. A person seeking housing supports in Hamilton should receive the same minimum level of service in Sault Ste. Marie. The provincial government provides the policy framework and funds housing and homelessness services at the community level through the Investment in Affordable Housing Program (IAHP) and Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative (CHPI); these programs are directly administered by the 47 municipal service managers across Ontario. Without accountable provincial oversight, there is the possibility for 47 different methods of program operation, interpretation, and implementation of discretionary funding across Ontario. OFIFC has heard from urban Aboriginal community members that the amalgamation of the Community Start-Up and Maintenance Benefit into CHPI has increased their risk of homelessness as the same level of support for overdue utility bills, broken appliances or moving expenses are not often supported under CHPI.21 Provincial support of 20

Mowat Centre., A Federal Economic Agenda for Ontario (Toronto, ON: Mowat Centre, 2015) 9. Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres, Métis Nation of Ontario, Ontario Native Women’s Association., A Collaborative Summary of Social Assistance Reform Urban Aboriginal Client Sessions (Toronto, ON: Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres, Ontario Native Women’s Association, Métis Nation of Ontario , 2015). 21

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municipally operated homelessness and housing programs, in particular for the interpretation of discretionary benefits, is required to ensure a fair system of housing across Ontario while supporting locally driven service delivery. Further, more must be done by the provincial government, municipal service managers and urban Aboriginal organisations to gain a comprehensive understanding of the homeless population throughout Ontario, and specifically the proportion of which is Aboriginal. Without comprehensive knowledge of the need for housing support, including the transient and ‘invisible’ homeless populations, it will not be possible to meaningfully assess accurate housing waitlists or determine demand and funding needed for homelessness prevention and housing services. Urban Aboriginal Designed and Delivered There are a limited number of existing programs and services available for urban Aboriginal people seeking housing support: Urban Native Non-Profit Housing Program (UNH), Rural and Native Housing Program (RNH) and FIMUR. As of 2013, there were only 4,300 units available through these three programs. In reality, the number of available units for urban Aboriginal people is far less (3,300), considering that RNH supports both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people living in rural areas, with only 35 percent of RNH units targeted for urban Aboriginal clients.22 There is a significant gap between the quantity of urban Aboriginal specific housing compared to the large population and the disproportionate high housing needs of Aboriginal people living offreserve. Consideration for enhanced capacity to provide housing supports and services to urban Aboriginal people should be provided through Aboriginal owned and controlled housing providers and Provincial Territorial Organisations (PTOs), such as the OFIFC. As of 2014, 168,711 families, seniors, couples and single adults were on waiting lists for social housing with an average wait time of four years.23 In some cases, even ‘affordable’ housing units exceed monthly income of social assistance recipients as they are not geared-to-income. The maximum monthly amount for shelter costs under Ontario Works increases based on family size, ranging from approximately $380 for a single adult to about $660 for a family of three24, well below the average cost of an apartment in Ontario, a 2 bedroom apartment can range from $670 to over $1,200.25 More must be done to ensure that low-income and social assistance urban Aboriginal recipients are adequately housed, including expanding the supply of RGI units.

Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres, Métis Nation of Ontario, Ontario Native Women’s Association., Ontario Urban and Rural First Nations, Métis and Inuit Housing Policy Framework (Toronto, ON: Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres, Ontario Native Women’s Association, Métis Nation of Ontario , 2013). 15. 23 Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association., 2015 Waiting List Survey (Toronto, ON: Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association, 2015). 24 Ministry of Community and Social Services., Ontario Works Directive (Toronto, ON: Ministry of Community and Social Services, 2014). Note the approximate values given represent the 3% and 1% increases to rates announced in the 2015 provincial budget. 25 Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing., Average Market Rents (Toronto, ON: Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, 2015). 22

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Urban Aboriginal people must have equal access to affordable housing as nonAboriginal people. Racism and discrimination by landlords and mainstream service providers impede urban Aboriginal people’s access to housing supports, while also limiting tangential services such as food support, mental health and addictions and employment supports. The Government of Ontario has prioritised the housing needs of urban Aboriginal people in its provincial housing policy statement,26 yet no clear strategy has been developed to support urban Aboriginal people in need of housing. The Government of Ontario should collaborate with urban Aboriginal organisations and housing providers to develop and articulate a strategy to address the expiration of subsidy for the 2,500 UNH units. In order to ensure a fair system of housing, the few existing urban Aboriginal housing programs, namely UNH, must be devolved to urban Aboriginal organisations to design and administer, including Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services (OAHS) and other interested Aboriginal organisations. In addition, support must be given to these organisations to develop and sustain new RGI housing units. In the very least, urban Aboriginal housing programs must be delivered in partnership with urban Aboriginal organisations and funding levels increased to organisations with proven track record in providing housing support for urban Aboriginal people in Ontario. The Government of Ontario should also require municipal service managers to dedicate an appropriate allocation of housing funds to address Aboriginal homelessness in their housing and homelessness plans. While the numbers vary across the province, this would likely be a minimum of 15-20 percent of the CHPI funds in southern Ontario and closer to at least 40 percent in the north. In Sioux Lookout, the percentage of the homeless population that is Aboriginal is more than 99.9 percent.27 Administrative processes must also be improved to ensure that in-person intake and application systems are housed in a culturally-competent and safe space that do not shame individuals and connects urban Aboriginal people with services needed. Wholistic and Family-Based Services Urban Aboriginal housing infrastructure and programs must be wholistically designed, delivered and implemented. Housing is a social determinant of health and good housing promotes wellbeing (physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual) for individuals, family and community. A fair system of housing assistance recognises the physical aspects of housing including its location and material conditions. The location of a home determines the accessibility of services and individuals’ ability to participate in community and cultural activities, especially in transportation-poor communities. Good housing supports mental development by providing access to education, training and employment. Housing that is close to family, community, and social supports improve emotional housing. Good housing reflects urban Aboriginal people’s identity, and most 26

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing., Ontario Housing Policy Statement (Toronto, ON: Government of Ontario). 27 The Canadian Race Relations Foundation., A Sociological Analysis of Root Causes of Aboriginal Homelessness in Sioux Lookout, Ontario (Sioux Lookout, ON: Canadian Race Relations Foundation, 2005).

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importantly, is free from discrimination. Urban Aboriginal housing has a spiritual dimension and should reflect communal values, cultures and connections to the land.28 Housing supports should also provide wrap-around services that support families to step out of poverty by increasing access to services, including food banks, budgeting, mental health, and health care. A fair system of housing must be family-based and provide wrap-around services to the entire family. All too often urban Aboriginal families are forced to separate in order to find temporary housing. Strict age and gender restrictions limit the ability for families to seek shelter together, especially evident in two parent families, single fathers with daughters and single mothers with sons over the age of 16. The issue of housing insecurity in the majority of Friendship Centre communities reaches all stages of the lifecycle and program areas, but is increasingly experienced by youth, men and seniors. Insufficient housing places particular challenges on families involved in the child welfare system. The cyclical nature of insecure housing continues with youth transitioning out of care who are inadequately prepared for independent living and can be ineligible for social assistance supports if under the age of 18. Dedicated support must be given to support at-risk youth transitioning out of care. Transitional Housing There is an increased need for transitional housing projects across the province that support urban Aboriginal people. Transitional housing that provides supports and skillbuilding that enables individuals move across the housing continuum from homeless to housing stability are critical to ensuring a fair system of housing. Transitional housing projects that specifically support youth transitioning out of care or leaving poor home environments are needed, building skills required to maintain housing, specifically how to find and maintain employment, budgeting, and other life skills. Friendship Centres provide these types of supports in other capacities where they are able, but without transitional housing stock, urban Aboriginal youth will remain housing poor. Transitional housing is also needed for women fleeing violence that provides counselling and child care. Where transitional housing exists for women, most impose age limits for male children which can result in family separation and a cyclical relationship with housing for the separated boys that are then in need of youth transitional housing or are forced into unsafe living conditions or homelessness. Transitional housing should be an integral part of the Government of Ontario’s Long Term Affordable Housing Strategy to support housing insecure individuals’ gain suitable and permanent housing.

Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres, Métis Nation of Ontario, Ontario Native Women’s Association., Ontario Urban and Rural First Nations, Métis and Inuit Housing Policy Framework (Toronto, ON: Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres, Ontario Native Women’s Association, Métis Nation of Ontario , 2013). 21. 28

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Co-ordinated, Accessible Support Services Housing and supportive services require better coordination. Ontario’s 14 Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) have a significant role in the funding and administration of supportive housing.29 Increased collaboration between LHINs and municipal service managers is necessary in order to better serve individuals in need of supportive housing. The LHIN’s current approach to supportive housing prioritises clinical interventions over supportive services, such as those delivered by Friendship Centres that address health issues but also the social determinants of health for urban Aboriginal people. The current definition of the Health Service Providers under the Local Health Service Integration Act does not allow Friendship Centres to achieve HSP designation,30 thereby excluding them from accessing funding, information sharing and network opportunities, and from LHIN strategic planning, priority setting, and governance. The preference for funding clinical interventions places additional pressure on supportive services to demonstrate need through evidence-based data; however, there is a lack of information on the types of supportive housing services needed by urban Aboriginal people. Friendship Centres are able to generally identify the need for additional supportive services along with affordable housing across various demographic groups, specifically: youth transitioning out of care, individuals struggling with mental health and addictions, justice-involved individuals, individuals fleeing violence, and seniors. For Friendship Centre clients struggling to regain their lives after addiction, justice involvement, or homelessness, the lack of supportive and transitional housing facilities in many communities can have a disastrous effect. Without safe and adequate housing options, individuals are often unable to make a successful transition and relapse, reoffend, remain in violent environments or become homeless. Friendship Centres throughout Ontario should be a key partner in the evolution of housing and supportive services. Supportive services provided by Friendship Centres benefit from wrap-around services that support housing-insecure urban Aboriginal people across the entire housing continuum while also providing tangential services such as education and employment, literacy, and mental health. Currently, Friendship Centres provide supportive health services to community members to enable them to stay in their homes and remain independent. For the most part these services, such as Life Long Care, are in high demand with limited resources to adequately support community members. Considering the undersupply of affordable housing, seniors’ housing and transitional housing, the importance of supportive housing programs in Friendship Centres cannot be understated. To date, Friendship Centres have been fulfilling this role in response to community needs with little, and sometimes no, funding or government support. A Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy should recognise Friendship Centres as delivering culturally competent supportive housing services and provide increased support to ensure these services are continued and expanded in response to community needs. 29 30

Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association., “LHINS and the housing system,” FocusON, Vol. 04 (2013). Local Health Service Integration Act, 2006, S.O. 2006, c. C.4.

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Further, consideration for developing new supportive housing units must be given, in addition to maintain existing social and affordable housing stocks. Appropriate funding and mechanisms to provide culturally appropriate services for new supportive housing should be made through additional investments in Provincial Territorial Associations like the OFIFC.

RECOMMENDATIONS It is recommended that the provincial government develop and implement a new longterm framework to address housing and homelessness. The provincial government should encourage the federal government to adopt this framework for federally funded housing programs in Ontario.  A new framework must develop unique strategies that address regional differences and specifically northern Ontario, where adequate housing is especially lacking.  A specific framework for supporting urban Aboriginal people at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness and housing insecurity must also be developed. It is recommended that the Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy acknowledge the need for, and investment in:  Targeted support for urban Aboriginal people, specifically the growing youth population.  Housing services across the full continuum from homelessness prevention services to affordable rentals and assisted home ownership, including transitional housing. It is recommended that the urban Aboriginal housing programs are devolved to urban Aboriginal organisations to design and administer, including OAHS and other interested Aboriginal organisations.  In addition, support must be given to OAHS to develop and sustain new RGI housing units.  In the very least, urban Aboriginal housing programs must be delivered in partnership with urban Aboriginal organisations. It is recommended that the Government of Ontario require municipal service managers to dedicate an appropriate allocation of housing funds to address local Aboriginal homelessness in their housing and homelessness plans. It is recommended that the provincial government recognise Friendship Centres as delivering culturally competent supportive housing services and provide increased support to ensure these services are continued and expanded.

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It is recommended that the provincial government, municipal service managers and urban Aboriginal organisations collaborate to determine a compendium of housing needs for at-risk or homeless urban Aboriginal people throughout Ontario. It is recommended that the provincial government expand the current definition, within the context of supportive housing, of the Health Service Providers (HSP) under the Local Health Service Integration Act to allow Friendship Centres to achieve HSP designation and provide them with the opportunity to access funding, information sharing and network opportunities, and LHIN’s strategic planning, priority setting, and governance.

CONCLUSION The Government of Ontario’s Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy Update must recognise the unique challenges faced by housing-insecure urban Aboriginal people. The Strategy should strive to provide wholistic services to individuals at all points of the housing continuum and not implement Housing First policy directives at the expense of homelessness prevention and poverty reduction services. The federal, provincial and municipal governments must recognise the wide reach of homelessness in urban Aboriginal communities. Government should continue to build meaningful partnerships with urban Aboriginal organisations providing services across the housing continuum, including Friendship Centres, in order to ensure urban Aboriginal people have equal access to adequate and affordable housing and support services.

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