Housing Support Program (HSP) in British Columbia

Overview:

Indigenous Services Canada’s (ISC) Housing Support Program (HSP), formerly known as the New Approach for Housing Support (NAHS) Program, helps First Nations in British Columbia better leverage housing funding, develop housing plans and policies, and manage housing in their communities.

The program supports a range of housing activities, including training, capacity building, renovations and new home construction on reserve. First Nations can apply through two separate applications based on their community’s housing priorities.

Funding Amount:
Funding varies by eligible activity. The Housing Support Program provides:

• Subsidies toward new home construction or purchase
• Support for regular and health and safety renovations
• Building inspection costs
• A flat rate toward multi-unit residential construction of 3 or more units, including site preparation, building inspection and project management costs
• Funding for housing policies, plans, training and capacity development

Who Can Apply:
Eligible applicants include:

• First Nations
• First Nation councils
• Tribal councils
• Authorized band-housing authorities
• Block-funded First Nations, subject to ISC BC Region’s Access to Additional Capital Guidelines
• Self-government and treaty First Nations, subject to the terms of their fiscal financial agreements

Project Examples:
Governance and Capacity Application

• Creating housing policies
• Developing housing plans
• Housing management training
• Capacity development

Housing Support Program Application

• New home construction
• Home purchase
• Regular renovations
• Health and safety renovations
• Building inspections
• Multi-unit residential construction of 3 or more units
• Site preparation and project management for multi-unit housing

Province/Scope:
British Columbia — First Nations and eligible First Nation housing organizations in BC.

Deadline:
Ongoing — No application deadline. Applications can be submitted throughout the year. However, First Nations must include their planned housing projects in their annual First Nations Infrastructure Investment Plan submissions.