National Indigenous Affordable Housing Corp.
City Affordability Plan and Housing Demonstration Projects Accord

This Accord is a promise between the Local Municipality, the Local and Urban Indigenous Communities and Families and Individuals affected by the Housing Affordability Crisis in Canada.

The spirit of this agreement commits to enriching the relationship between the City and all peoples by providing a framework for the inclusion of more affordable and attainable housing opportunities for low to middle-income families that are dreaming of homeownership.

These are the people that are truly missing from the missing middle; families and individuals who are looking for more affordable and liveable homeownership options. Affordable Housing and Home Ownership should not be out of reach for First Nations, Inuit, Metis, and other visible minorities within the communities they call home.

The City is committed to working on implementing planning frameworks and policy to address the immediate needs for more affordable housing types directed at low to middle-income families.

We also honour and acknowledge the history the City shares with the local and Urban Indigenous Community and the spirit of Reconciliation and Inclusion that continues to be demonstrated by the City of Vancouver.

We believe that the pillars for a successful relationship are based on the shared values of respect, honesty, integrity, and mutual contribution. They also serve our shared interests within the guidelines of transparency, accountability, inclusiveness, reconciliation, and shared partnership.

We have a mutual need for all people to be represented in local Housing and Planning Policy. Our dream is to make homeownership and affordable housing within reach for both low and middle-income families and First Nations, Inuit, Metis, and other visible minorities who are missing from the missing middle.

NIAHC City Affordability Plan Framework

The National Indigenous Affordable Housing Corporation’s “City Affordability Plan” directs Cities to plan for more affordable housing types directed at low to middle-income families within existing single-family neighborhoods and new neighborhood centers.

 

One of the City Affordability Plans next steps is to work collaboratively with Federal, Provincial and Local Governments in creating the Planning Process and Framework to initiate CAP Housing Demonstration Projects. These projects will provide more affordable and flexible ownership structures to First Nations, Inuit, Metis, and other Minorities.

 

The innovative designs will introduce new forms of housing that also offer single-family living features but at slightly higher densities in order to truly maximize affordability. Unlocking restrictive zoning requirements is a necessity to bring back the “individuals that are missing from the missing middle.”

Working closely with municipalities, local planning departments, and the public through meaningful planning changes and neighborhood public consultation will be pivotal in the roll out of the CAP Housing Demonstration Projects. As each City’s planning processes are unique careful consideration has to be given to the CAP plan implementation.

 

Every City has unique supply, demand, and pricing metrics that need to be considered coupled with changing economic, environmental, and lower to middle-income family needs. Both micro and macro factors are important as well as the character and location of each neighborhood that needs to be respected when consideration is given to Housing Demonstration Projects.

It is important to build both City and neighborhood consensus for these CAP projects through the City Planning Process and comprehensive Neighborhood consultation.

To provide clear direction and to qualify as a CAP Housing Demonstration Project the following conditions will need to be met:

1.   Local Communities, Local Municipal Staff, and Local Home Builders must identify a need for more affordable housing options within their community to support low to moderate-income families with new homeownership.

2.   The CAP Housing Demonstration Project provides a new housing type in a community that demonstrates improved affordability and has a degree of local planning and community support.

Finally, the following questions will need to be answered in order to ensure appropriate targets are met:

1.   Will a project provide housing options directly targeted at low- and moderate-income households?

2.   Will a project increase the range of affordable housing options and meet the unique housing needs in the community?

3.   Will a project endeavor to prevent the displacement of local residents?

4.   Will a project meet or exceed the current energy and building performance standards?

5.    Will a project be aesthetically well-designed and have a degree of local community support?