1,000 Métis families in homes of their own, thanks to the MMF!

August 1, 2024

Winnipeg, MB, in the National Homeland of the Red River Métis - Today, the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF), the National Government of the Red River Métis, are proud to announce that we have achieved a major milestone - we have assisted 1,000 families as they buy their own homes.

Since 2019, the MMF - the National Government of the Red River Métis - has been supporting our Citizens as they achieve their home ownership dreams through our First Time Home Purchase Program. This success was gained through an investment of $13 million by the MMF. This small investment created over a quarter of a billion dollars in economic benefits in the Manitoba marketplace, and created nearly 460 jobs, in just five years.

The MMF's First Time Home Purchase Program, delivered by the Louis Riel Capital Corporation (LRCC), in conjunction with the MMF's Housing and Property Management department, began with the development of policies and guidelines in the fall of 2018, and took the first application for the program on the same day it was launched. From there, the calls and emails flooded in for this life-changing initiative for Red River Métis Citizens.

"It's been clear since the beginning that there is high demand for a program like this," said Will Goodon, Minister for Housing and Property Management with the MMF. "We created a program that works with just a small investment, that allows them to achieve big dreams and major impacts on the economy and on the housing needs for our families and young people."

The celebration of 1,000 homes purchased took place at the home of Meghan Young and Joshua Boucher, both Citizens of the MMF, who say that part of their pride in buying their home through the program stems from their knowledge that Red River Métis families were pushed off their lands and forced out of their houses to make way for settlers.

"We are so grateful the MMF is doing this work to ensure Métis families can purchase a home," said Meghan Young. "This is such a great program, and it helped ensure our goal of home ownership was in reach. We now get to focus on filling this house with Métis art and making it our forever home."

"I'm thankful for the MMF's support to allow us to kickstart our lives," said Joshua Boucher. "Their support has given us the chance to get a step ahead and be able to purchase a house in a market that seems so tough. The process was so easy, and we felt supported as we navigated buying our first house."

"I am so proud of each and every Citizen who has purchased a home through this program," said David Chartrand, President of the MMF. "We have always been a hardworking people, and with just a little support from our Red River Métis Government, they have been able to secure a home, which is more than a home - it's an asset, and an investment into the future security of each family, which benefits the broader economy. We have gone above and beyond the target of 800 families in homes, and we won't stop here. We look forward to celebrating the next 1,000 families as they achieve their dreams."

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For more information, media may contact:
Kat Patenaude
Media Relations Advisor
Manitoba Métis Federation
204-801-7710
Kat.Patenaude@mmf.mb.ca

Believe in Yourself; Believe in Métis.

The Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) is the democratically elected National Government of the Red River Métis, also known as the Manitoba Métis. The Red River Métis are a distinct Indigenous Nation and People and Canada's Negotiating Partners in Confederation and the Founders of the Province of Manitoba.

 

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