The Province, in partnership with the Aboriginal Housing Management Association, has transferred ownership and management of 75 properties for Aboriginal families on Vancouver Island to M'akola Housing Society.

The transfer completes the first phase in transferring more than 500 Rural Native Housing (RNH) properties in 112 rural communities throughout B.C., to Aboriginal non-profit housing providers. The 75 Vancouver Island properties have an assessed value of almost $17 million.

M'akola was the successful proponent of a Request for Proposals from pre-qualified Aboriginal housing providers held last fall. The Province will continue to work toward transferring the remaining RNH properties to a qualified non-profit Aboriginal housing provider and will be issuing a Request for Proposal in the coming months.

Quotes:

MLA Don McRae, Comox Valley -

"Addressing Aboriginal housing need is one of the six priorities of the provincial housing strategy, Housing Matters BC. The transfer of these properties to M'akola is an important milestone and demonstrates our firm commitment to Aboriginal self-management of safe, affordable social housing for Aboriginal peoples."

Andrew Leach, CEO, Aboriginal Housing Management Association -

"AHMA applauds this first transfer of the Rural Native Housing portfolio to Aboriginal non-profit housing societies and congratulates M'akola Housing Society as the successful proponent for the properties on Vancouver Island. We welcome the transfer of the remaining properties, which will support both the delivery of social housing to Aboriginal families in need throughout B.C. and foster the capacity of the non-profit Aboriginal housing sector."

Kevin Albers, CEO, M'akola Housing Society -

"The transfer and management of these Vancouver Island properties will enable M'akola to better serve off-reserve Aboriginal families and provide homes they can be proud of and feel connected to traditional values and a community."

Quick Facts:

• Through Housing Matters BC, the Province is addressing a range of housing needs, from homelessness to affordable rental housing and homeownership.
• The Rural Native Housing (RNH) program provides more than 500 housing units to British Columbia's Aboriginal off-reserve population. The portfolio, composed mainly of single-family houses, is located in small and rural communities throughout the province.
• AHMA is a provincial Aboriginal social housing management agency formed in 1995. This Aboriginal self-management model for social housing is the first of its kind in Canada.
• AHMA will administer subsidies and operating agreements for the Rural Native Housing portfolio as ownership and management is transferred to Aboriginal housing providers.
• M'akola Housing Society was established in 1984 and was formed to provide safe, affordable housing for families of Aboriginal ancestry. Since that time, the society and its mandate have expanded into what is now the M'akola Group of Societies and manages more than 800 housing units on Vancouver Island.

Learn More:

To find out more about affordable housing in B.C., visit: www.bchousing.org

Visit the Aboriginal Housing Management Association website: www.ahma-bc.org

Learn more about M'akola Housing Society: www.makola.bc.ca

Media Contact:

Seumas Gordon
Senior Manager, Public Affairs
BC Housing
604 439-4789
sgordon@bchousing.org