First Nations to partner with Habitat for Humanity and Manitoba government

A new partnership has been formed between Habitat for Humanity Winnipeg (HFHW), the Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council Housing Authority (DOTCHA) and the Province of Manitoba to build five houses in each of 2010 and 2011 for First Nations families by utilizing the Habitat Model and Family Selection process.

The provincial government is providing $100,000 per house -- approximately two-third of the funding required for each house -- while HFHW will take the lead with DOTCHA’s assistance to raise the remaining $50,000 per house through various fundraising efforts. “There is a dire need for affordable housing in our city, especially for First Nations populations,” says Sandy Hopkins, Habitat CEO. “We jointly feel that homeownership is an excellent solution to strengthen the lives of First Nation families, which in turn benefits the entire community.”

The DOTC Housing Authority will communicate with their member bands, the First Nations community as a whole and with the general public to assist in fundraising and the identification of potential homeowners. In total, DOTC and Habitat need to raise $500,000 to cover one-third of the funding not provided for by government to build ten homes over the next two years.