Closing the Housing Gap

Understanding housing disparities between the off-reserve Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations in Canada

This Research Insight looks at the housing challenges Indigenous people living off-reserve in Canada face compared to non-Indigenous populations. Using census data and surveys, it highlights major issues with housing affordability, adequacy and suitability for Indigenous households. The report also estimates the costs to close the gap and emphasizes the need for culturally safe, trauma-informed housing solutions through collaboration among stakeholders.

Highlights

• Housing Survey and Costs: Fixing the housing gap would require a one-time cost of $1.37 billion for repairs and $58 million per year to improve affordability. This would help nearly 29,000 Indigenous households in need.
• Policy Analysis: Indigenous renters face more housing insecurity than Indigenous homeowners, identifying a need for policies and programs to address low rates of home ownership.
• Recommendations: Closing the housing gap requires Indigenous-led, collaborative solutions and more research into the unique challenges faced by First Nations, Métis, Inuit and other marginalized groups.

Author:

CMHC

Document Type:

PDF

Date Published:

January 13, 2025