Tenants have already moved into three new housing complexes opened on Katzie First Nation territory, as part of a project funded by both the federal and provincial governments.
“This is more than just housing,” Katzie First Nation Chief Grace George told a group of about 18 who gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, March 24.
George said the buildings represent dignity, healing, and community.
“These are not just buildings behind us – they are places where life will be rebuilt, where young people will find stability, where families will reconnect, where elders and others will return home – a place where our people will feel safe, supported, and at home,” said the Katzie First Nation chief.
The project consists of three buildings with 40 new housing units located at 19676, 19679, and 19696 Salish Rd. on the First Nation’s land.
There are 10 youth housing units – five each for girls and boys – plus 16 supportive housing units, both with 24/7 staffing and services, in addition to 14 independent affordable housing units.
Units range in size from studio apartments up to three bedrooms.
Amenities include communal lounges, a commercial kitchen, multi-purpose rooms, and an elders gathering space.
Increased mental health services and community services is also being offered on site, in partnership with Fraser Health, as well as the Ministry of Family and Child Development.
Funding for the project, came from the both the federal and provincial governments.
First announced in 2018, the province agreed to $7.8 million in support through the Indigenous Housing Fund.
However, there were delays during project development that included site complexities and soil contamination which affected the schedule and overall project costs, explained the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs.
The completed project received more than $13 million in funding from the province, including $10.7 million through the Indigenous Housing Fund and a Cost Pressures Grant of $2.7 million. BC Housing also provided more than $1 million in annual operating funding, explained the ministry.
The federal government funded $5 million of the project through the Canada- British Columbia Bilateral Agreement under the National Housing Strategy – bringing the total amount of funding to around $18.2 million.
Construction of the project began in 2023, and the new homes were completed this past December.
Priority tenants for the buildings are members of the Katzie First Nation, who were selected by the Katzie First Nation Affordable Housing Development Society in partnership with BC Housing, and the Ministry of Child and Family Development.
The affordable and supportive housing units already have tenants. And Katzie’s development society executive director Kevin Eaton hopes to have the youth units filled within the next two weeks.
The project is a partnership between the federal government, through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC); the province through BC Housing; Katzie First Nation Affordable Housing Development Society; Fraser Health; and the Ministry of Children and Family Development.
“This is Indigenous-led housing, that is culturally appropriate,” explained Lisa Beare, Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows MLA and provincial minister of Education and Child Care.
“It’s youth aging out of care, families that need it, people who require supports, as well as elders, all within a culturally safe and appropriate housing facility,” she said, noting that all the supports people need are right there.
These housing units are a change in the way that housing is being done across the province, Beare added.
“In 2018, B.C. announced being the first jurisdiction that is building housing on reserve. This is supposed to be federal jurisdiction, but the need was so great,” she said.
George added that the new units will help reduce housing overcrowding issues on their territory. She also explained how important it is for Katzie First Nation to create opportunities for their people to return home, to be close to their families, and be able to stay connected to the territory.
Katzie First Nation Councillor David Kenworthy said the project is a huge celebration for the Katzie people as they are a very close-knit community. And, he said, people who are moving in are happy to be home and surrounded by their family.
“A lot of us grew up together, close to one another, and, you know, their kids really have that opportunity to do the same,” he said about the residents of the new homes, who will also able to receive services from the Katzie Nation, whether that be health or youth services and programming.
George noted in her speech that for too long Indigenous people have faced barriers to safe and affordable housing.
“We have had so many individuals come forward and say that they have never lived in a brand new space before, ever. We have watched some of our tenants transition out of homelessness into these units,” George told the gathering.
“Today, as we cut that ribbon, we didn’t just open doors – we opened opportunities, hope, and a stronger future for Katzie First Nation.”