Housing success stories shared

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Building environmentally sensitive, affordable housing was emphasized at a housing symposium and trade show held at Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa at Harrison Hot Springs, B.C., from Sept. 15 to 18.

The theme of the symposium was "Housing Ourselves," and it encompassed designing, building, renovating and managing housing.

Delegates got the chance to tour the Seabird Island Sustainable Community Demonstration Project-the first on-reserve project of its kind in Canada-and saw how to apply those design principles to any housing project.

Chris Maracle, director of a successful housing project for the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, was a keynote speaker at the symposium.

"We've built 12 more energy-efficient rental homes this year in addition to the 60 R-2000 homes already on reserve," said Maracle.

New concepts in housing for Aboriginal people are leading the way nationally in environmentally sound features. Best of all, the innovative planning, construction and management of residential community developments is complementary to ancient beliefs about environmental stewardship, which looks ahead seven generations, he said.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation for B.C. and Yukon (CMHC) was a major participant in both the showcased Seabird Island project and the symposium.

Valerie Rosenthal, senior marketing and communications consultant for CMHC, said that project "provides affordable rental housing on reserve, but still is owned by the band."

"Seabird Island, like many Aboriginal communities, has seen its population double to 700 people in recent years. We've combined an existing social housing program with innovative and more recent advances in housing construction," she said.

The community was chosen because it is somewhat isolated, being located on an island in the Fraser River, yet it is still fairly accessible to major transportation routes.

In the near future, when the energy efficient project is complete, arrangements will be made to host people from across Canada who want to see it.

"It makes use of solar energy, and the south-facing exposure allows for built-in solariums and greenhouses. The units are flexible, in that they can adapt to the changing needs of the family. They are barrier-free for seniors and people with disabilities as three generations are often wishing to live together," said Rosenthal. As well, special care has been taken to ensure stronger, more durable materials for longer life of the homes, such as mould-resistant drywall.

Other features include rain water recovery, water-efficient plumbing fixtures, hydronic in-slab radiant heating and high performance windows. Special features of the homes in the project include spiritual healing gardens where herbs and other valued Indigenous plants will be grown. The homes at Seabird Island include a duplex, a triplex, and single family units.

Conference delegates were impressed. Rod Ignace, housing manager for the Skeetchestn Indian band has a similar program on his reserve near Kamloops.

"The opportunity to network and exchange ideas with other communities about this very important issue is invaluable," he stated. "I learned a lot and it really helped our community." Skeetchestn has built 46 energy-efficient affordable housing units to date.

In his community, Maracle oversees carpenters, painters, electricians and apprentices as they add new homes each year. "The workers are all members of the band, and the building of the homes supports local businesses, such as our lumber yard, and any others related to all facets of construction," he said. The homes are energy-efficient 1200-square-foot houses, located on full-serviced lots and renting for $476 per month.

The Bay of Quinte Mohawks have 800 homes for 2,200 members, many of which were built under the band's revolving loan program. The project has won several awards for energy efficiency and was recognized by CMHC in its Healthy Housing Program.

Chris Maracle spoke abouthow the Mohawk housing program has evolved over the past 30 years.

"I emphasized the importance and benefits of a community-owned and community-controlled housing program," he said. Recruiting their own members to fill trades positions has resulted in new careers for many, and a lot of mentorship among the workers.

"We encourage everyone to consider planning energy-efficient housing. Aboriginal people are the true stewards of the land and we must live by those principles," he said.

Maracle found the high level of interest and enthusiasm among the participants to be very encouraging. "The symposium was well attended, and the partnership of CMHC and Aboriginal people, working hand in hand towards a common goal, was exciting," he said. "When you consider the many social and economic benefits of a good housing program, it's a win-win situation."