Housing & Property Management

Minister: Will Goodon

Message from the Minister

Since being elected as a representative for the Southwest Region in 2014, I have been proud to represent the Manitoba Metis Community and the Manitoba Metis Federation. As the Minister of Housing and Property Management, I've seen a lot of positive changes in our department over the past few years as our team has grown dramatically since 2018. We've worked on some amazing projects in all corners of the province, including the completed Willow Bay senior's housing compound, a soon to be finished sixplex in St. Boniface and much more. I'm very hopeful for the future of Metis Nation housing in Manitoba and will continue to do my best to ensure that Metis citizens have access to an affordable home. - Minister Will Goodon

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An Introduction to Métis Nation Housing

Housing has been an important pillar of the Manitoba Metis Federation as a foundation for self-government for over fifty years, since 1967. In the early years of the MMF, service provision was limited to small programs delivered on behalf of other levels of government. Today, with a renewed and strengthened nation-to-nation, government-to-government relationship with Canada, the Housing & Property Management Department has become one of the crown jewels of the Manitoba Metis Government through new strategic investments and commitments.

The Manitoba Metis Federation, as the government of the Manitoba Métis Community, has a responsibility to assist with the housing needs and respond to the priorities of the citizens. To support Métis Citizens in finding an affordable home today, the MMF is offering new targeted initiatives to provide the 'head start' that was promised in 1870; initiatives such as the First Time Home Purchase Program, the Home Enhancement Loan Program (MMF-HELP), many new affordable housing projects, a Métis-specific strategy to address homelessness, and two incredible projects under the Indigenous Homes Innovation Initiative.

The MMF has big plans for the development of Metis Nation housing in Manitoba as we work towards our goal of every Metis Nation citizen having access to clean, safe and culturally appropriate housing. There are a lot of exciting projects at various stages of development in the MMF housing department, so make sure to stay tuned for future announcements.

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Mission Statement/Vision

OUR MISSION STATEMENT:

To support Metis Citizens housing needs and priorities and help provide them with the 'headstart' promised in 1870.

WHAT IS THE HEADSTART METIS CITIZENS WERE PROMISED?

A head start for Metis citizens was included in the Manitoba Act, which was drafted in 1870. This head start promised: "a portion of such ungranted lands, to the extent of one million four hundred thousand acres." Unfortunately, this promise was broken and left unfulfilled for generations. Today, many Metis families that are descendants of the would-be beneficiaries of the broken promise aren't homeowners. In fact, many of these families pay more per month in rent than mortgage payments cost, but simply can't afford the down payment.

BUILDING AN EFFICIENT HOUSING AND CONSTRUCTION TEAM

The signing of the Canada - Métis Nation Housing Sub-Accord in 2018 has allowed the MMF Housing Department to grow substantially over the past few years. What started out as a small team of three staff just a couple years ago, the MMF Housing and Property Mangement Department has since grown into a robust team of twenty staff with experience in all aspects in Housing including research and policy development, commercial development, planning, construction, advocacy, affordable housing and more.

The continued growth of the MMF Housing Department means that the Department now has the capacity to manage the construction of our own commercial developments. These developments, such as the planned Metis Early Learning and Child Care Centre in Swan River (in pre-development), two Centres currently under construction in St. Eustache and Dauphin (expected completion in Fall 2021), as well the recently completed Centre in Duck Bay will bring much needed services to the Metis citizens they serve. The Department is also continuing to strengthen the presence of the MMF in the community with the ongoing construction of a regional office for the Northwest Metis Council (expected completion Spring 2022) and a local office space in Flin Flon and Russell (expected completion Fall 2021 for both).

HOW WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS PROVIDING METIS CITIZENS WITH A 'HEAD START'

To support Métis Citizens in finding an affordable home today, the MMF is offering new targeted initiatives to provide the "head start" promised in 1870 - initiatives such as the First Time Home Purchase Program, new affordable housing projects, a Métis-specific homelessness strategy, and two major projects under the Indigenous Homes Innovation Initiative. Speaking of the MMF's housing programs, President Chartrand said "The Métis were promised land. Instead, our ancestors were dispossessed of their land. We are righting that wrong and giving our Citizens an opportunity at home ownership in the province that the Manitoba Métis created. Home ownership is more than a purchase, it is a promise of security for today and for our future."

We also introduced the Home Enhancement Loan Program in 2019, which gives Metis citizens the financial support to repair their homes, whether its emergency repairs, accessibility/efficiency upgrades and more. This program prioritizes Metis contractors, further contributing to the Metis community. This program has helped hundreds of Metis citizens since its inception.

We've also recently identified housing priorities for the future which include:

• Province-wide research
• More Affordable Housing - new builds
• Seniors Housing
• Repairs and Maintenance
• Analysis of our existing homes
• Using local resources to support local economies

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Affordable Housing

The MMF is committed to building and maintaining affordable housing units for Metis Citizens. To date, a total of 39 units have been built and 18 more are currently being built for a total of 57 units. Over the past year the MMF has completed the Frank Bruce Métis Seniors Complex in St. Laurent, and construction has commenced on future affordable housing builds that consist of triplexes, duplexes, and more seniors housing in Historic St. Boniface in Winnipeg, Portage La Prairie, and Selkirk. The Housing Department is currently planning for future builds in communities across Manitoba to meet the housing needs of Métis families and Citizens.

We are currently accepting applications for housing units, please review the documents below for more information.

• MMF Housing Application
• MMF Housing Application Checklist and FAQs
• MMF Housing Listing Page

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National Housing Day 2024

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Partnerships

In the past the MMF has partnered with the Province of Manitoba to build affordable housing, including in 2007 when we signed an agreement with the Manitoba Housing and Renewal Corporation to build ten new homes under the Affordable Housing Initiative Program. And again in 2013, we signed another agreement with MHRC that provided us with $5,500,000 over five years to build affordable housing. More recently, a Metis Nation Housing Sub-Accord was signed in July 2018. This first-of-its kind agreement earmarked $500 million for Métis Nation housing over 10 years and will be funded in stages. In 2018-2019 the MMF received $9.8 million, which was used to address the core housing needs of Manitoba Metis citizens. This agreement is the first time the Government of Canada has provided federal funding to Métis citizens for housing, and it allows the MMF to manage funding to address housing needs in the way that we decide is most effective and appropriate.

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Contact Info

Phone: 204-586-8474 EXT: 2680
Email: housing@mmf.mb.ca