Partnership to build affordable housing opportunities on Métis settlement

A pilot project on Kikino Métis Settlement will see Habitat for Humanity’s ownership model provide homes for four local families.

“Kikino is setting the stage for others to follow. Our objective is to help all of the Métis communities. We’re working out with our pilot projects the best way to go,” said Habitat for Humanity Edmonton President Alfred Nikolai.

The Kikino pilot project consists of four homes and four families ready for home ownership. Construction on the single family dwellings started in September and three are already roofed. When outdoor construction is completed, indoor work can continue throughout the winter.

An implementation team, consisting of representatives from all eight Métis settlements, selected Kikino as the site for the pilot project.

“The criteria was based on readiness—whether the settlement had taken the necessary steps to allow construction to take place. Land subdivided, services (available), etc.,” said Michael Francoeur, spokesman with Alberta Aboriginal relations.

Criteria were also established to determine which families would benefit from the pilot program.

The Habitat for Humanity home ownership model is a “hand up, not a hand out,” says Nikolai, and builds financial, social and community benefits, while providing people with a high quality home to call their own. Families must have an income. In Edmonton, Nikolai says the necessary income ranges from $32,000 to $56,000 annually. “Sweat equity” acts as the down payment.

“Each family agrees to do 500 hours of volunteer work, and not even necessarily in their home—it could be in the community. They just have to be willing to work for their home,” said Nikolai.

Since Habitat For Humanity is a non-profit organization, the monthly mortgage paid by Habitat families goes back into building homes for other families. As for the families themselves, that monthly payment goes towards building equity for their children’s futures, says Nikolai.

Volunteers from across Alberta have been showing up to help build the homes alongside Kikino community members.

“People are working shoulder to shoulder, arm to arm, neighbours helping neighbours, the community spirit is amazing,” said Nikolai.

Sustainable, affordable and livable housing is a major issue in the province’s eight Métis settlements. Last year, the provincial government entered into a partnership with the settlements with a goal to enhance housing, infrastructure, education and governance. The long-term governance and funding arrangement included a $15 million cost-sharing program to develop sustainable housing.

Alberta’s Métis communities are unique—the province is the only one in Canada to officially cede land to its Métis people.

Photo caption: On Nov. 12 (from left) Métis Settlements General Council president Stan Delorme with David Dorward, associate minister of Aboriginal Relations; Alfred Nikolai, president and CEO, Habitat for Humanity Edmonton; and Kikino Métis Settlement chair Floyd Thompson signed the memorandum of understanding to kick off the local Habitat build.