The Rural and Native Housing (RNH) Program was first introduced in 1974 as a response to Aboriginal demands to improve seriously deficient housing conditions that existed for off reserve and Metis households.
In 1975, the Federation established its first Housing delivery subsidiary in direct response to the introduction of the Rural and Native Housing Program to help facilitate program delivery throughout the Province. The subsidiary was known as the Rural and Native Housing Corporation of Manitoba. (RANHCOM)
However, this new corporation faced major challenges, and with limited success, would eventually be dissolved by it’s parent organization, the Manitoba Metis Federation in 1977. Resulting from this dissolution, the Federation's Housing Branch was established to maintain ongoing housing program delivery.
The Manitoba Metis Federation has been an active player in RNH housing at both the National and local level virtually since the inception of the program. Originally, the Federal / Provincial government partnership utilized the Federation as a delivery agent because of this extensive network, contacts and intimate knowledge and understanding of need and demand in rural and remote areas.
In 1985, the Federation entered into a delivery contract with CMHC on a fee for service. Encompassed in this agreement were Section 79 RNH New Home Program, Emergency Repair Program (ERP) and the Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP). Included as part of the Section 79 agreement was “Schedule C”, aside from the delivery fee for service provisions relating to the actual delivery process and responsibilities. Additionally, allowed for the participation and attendance of the Federation, the Provincial and Federal Governments (Tripartite Management Committee to meet on a regularly scheduled basis. As well provided for research, planning, monitoring and reporting functions for informational use. This arrangement continued automatically renewing from year to year.
In January 1992 the first of it’s kind in Canada, an Agreement for Property Management was signed between CMHC and the Federation with concurrence by the Province of Manitoba. (MHRC)
Under this agreement, the Federation managed some 200 units in Southern Manitoba. This pilot project was expanded in 1993 to include property management responsibility for approximately 1700 RNH Rental and Homeowner housing units across the Province.
Throughout the first year the Federation arranged and upgraded it’s organizational structure, staffing skills / levels to accommodate all the anticipated authorities and responsibilities that were planned for and went ahead and developed 15 Community Housing Boards (CHB’s) as per the plan.
The Federation initiated the completion of a training plan and secured the necessary financial resources for the implementation. The first intake of trainees was November 23, 1993 and completed in October, 1994 and all trainees successfully completed the 12 month training program, a real success given those trainees came from mostly northern communities.
The Federation was also instrumental and supported the establishment of two separate Property Management Groups. Those groups are the Wabowden Housing Board and Sagimace Housing Board in Camperville.
Under the Current Property Management Agreement (PMA), the Annual Repair Budget has remained virtually status quo at $4,000,000.00 since 1998.
CHMM’s annual budget requirement to adequately and successfully meet it’s annually planned objectives is more in the neighborhood of 5.5 million dollars.
The budget is to be expensed under the following categories:
- Modernization & Improvement - M&I
- General Maintenance – GM
- Cyclical Repairs – CR
- Recycled Repairs – RR
- Post Occupancy Corrections – POC
- Tenant Damages – TD
- Mould Remediation – MR
All POC related work must be pre – approved by MHRC.
Water Testing
The Federation has also been involved in semi annual water testing of wells and cisterns throughout the Province since August, 2000. Since then, 3 engineering firms were contracted to conduct the water testing and provide reports. The Federation has one staff assigned solely to manage the day to day duties and responsibilities involving water testing and remediation as required. This undertaking will continue until further notice.
Mould Remediation
The Federation is also actively involved in the mould remediation process where it involves RNH housing. Mould if left unchecked could cause serious health risks to those directly exposed to it, particularly the elderly and infants, and is a Federation priority.
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