Affordable housing units are coming to Six Nations

A new affordable housing project in Six Nations of the Grand River is scheduled to begin next month.

The five-unit rental properties will be built on Harold Road in Ohsweken as a collaborative effort from two Habitat for Humanity affiliates after the project received more than $1.5 million in funding from Indigenous Services of Canada.

Sean Ferris, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Hamilton, told The Spectator that due to inflationary pressures and a shortage of available contractors, the funding received to build the housing units wasn't sufficient to build with traditional, for-profit builders (because) the market is tight."

That's why, between fundraising efforts at Habitat as well as engaging volunteers and community members to help in the building process, we can build it a little bit less expensive but still to the quality," Ferris said.

Volunteer work to build the houses, as well as donations and sponsorship of products, will help reduce our labour costs ... and we can bring in products at a discounted rate, or completely free," Ferris said.

The partnership of Habitat affiliates and Six Nations represents the spirit of reconciliation," said Lily-Anne Mt Pleasant, acting director and finance control officer of Six Nations, in a statement.

Habitat Hamilton began the conversation with the Indigenous community in September 2013, going through a process of finding common ground and alignment of their missions, acting as a contractor for Six Nations to bring in volunteers and engage the community in the construction of the home, but also raise funds and deliver homes in a cost-effective manner," said Ferris.

Expected to be completed within a year, the five-unit housing units will be built as townhouses offering one-, two- and three-bedroom units with basements and parking garages. The newly built units will be owned by Six Nations.

Safe and decent housing in Indigenous communities is a real challenge, said the interim CEO of Habitat Heartland Ontario.

For us to be able to create five new units for the community is significant and hopefully will put a dent in their lack of housing stock," said Alan MacKinnon.

In 2021, more than one in six Indigenous people live in crowded housing considered not suitable for the number of people who lived there, according to Statistics Canada.

The new properties will offer space for those on waiting lists for affordable housing on the Six Nations reserve.

The long-term, sustainable houses will be a fit for community needs including families or perhaps, older people who are unable to maintain their own home," said Ferris.

Ritika Dubey is a reporter at The Spectator. rdubey@thespec.com