Indigenous Resources
The information and resources here are intended to support your efforts to understand and respond to Indigenous homelessness.
See below for links to information, Indigenous program approaches, community plans, and Indigenous specific homelessness response program examples. Remember, you can also always search on the Homeless Hub and the Homelessness Learning Hub for further information.
Keep checking back here as we will be regularly updating materials and adding further resources.
- Indigenous Definition of Homelessness (COH)
- Reaching Home CHR: Reference Guide (Collaboration between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Organizations, pg. 4, 11)
- 10 Tips for Engagement with Indigenous Partners (Toronto, 2019)
- Protocols and Practices for Meaningful Engagement with Indigenous Partners and Communities (Toronto, 2019)
- Considerations for Engagement with Indigenous People (AWH) – From the Youth Homelessness Planning Toolkit
- Aboriginal Homelessness – Point in Time Count Toolkit (COH, 2017)
- Fostering Aboriginal Partnerships and Cultural Competency During Your Point-in-Time Count (COH, 2018)
- Aboriginal Homelessness in Canada: A Literature Review (COH, 2014)
Foundations for Truth and Reconciliation
- Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action
- Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls Calls to Justice
- United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)
Additional Resources:
- Indigenous Canada Course, delivered by the University of Alberta (free)
- Tamarack’s Resources for Truth and Reconciliation (2021)
- Jesse Thistle:
- Video – Jesse Thistle – Culture Has the Power to Heal (33 min)
- Back Into the Circle: Q&A With Jesse Thistle Blog (CAEH, 2019)
- From the Ashes – Book
- Indigenous Knowledges and Data Governance Protocol (Indigenous Innovation Initiative, 2021)
- Revisioning Coordinated Access: Fostering Indigenous Best Practices Towards a Wholistic Systems Approach to Homelessness (SPRC Hamilton & COH, 2020) Recording and PowerPoint PDF
- Pekiwewin (Coming Home): Advancing Good Relations with Indigenous People Experiencing Homelessness (CMSH, 2020) – 2 page journal article with eight key points including four protocols to be followed by health and social service providers: 1) situating one’s self, 2) keeoukaywin (visiting), 3) hospitality, and 4) treat people as you would treat your own relative.
- Supporting Indigenous Residents (Nick Favo Blog, 2021) – 10 things to know from a report commissioned by Horizon Housing, an affordable housing provider in Calgary
- Indigenous Holistic Housing Support and Mental Health Case Management Program – a 2021 process evaluation of the The Mino Kaanjigoowin (MK) program at Na-Me-Res (Native Men’s Residence) in Toronto
- Indigenous Case Management Model: Adapting Housing First for Youth for Indigenous Youth (HF4Y) – video (10 min)
- Localized Approaches To Ending Homelessness: Indigenizing Housing First (Institute of Urban Studies University of Winnipeg, 2019)
- Localizing Housing First as a Culturally Responsive Approach to Understanding and Addressing Urban Indigenous Homelessness (Urban Aboriginal Knowledge Network, 2018)
- Indigenous Harm Reduction: Reducing the Harms of Colonialism Policy Brief (Interagency Coalition on AIDS and Development, 2019)
- A Summary of Indigenous Housing and Case Management Engagement Sessions (Calgary, 2019)
- Trauma-Informed Practice with Indigenous People Across the Life Span – 1 hour webinar (VAW Learning Network, Thompson River University, May 2017))
- Giwetashkad Indigenous Homelessness Strategic Plan (Atlohsa, 2020) – a three year plan to to reduce Indigenous homelessness in London, ON
- Meeting in the Middle: Engagement Strategy and Action Plan (Toronto, 2018) – Co-developed by the City of Toronto Shelter, Support and Housing Administration (SSHA) Division and the Toronto Aboriginal Support Services Council (TASSC). See also the October 19, 2021 webinar on this report and follow-up actions since its creation – Recording and PDF.
- Finding Safe Spaces and Services: A Community Action Plan to Address Indigenous Homelessness in Halton (Halton Community Legal Services, 2018)
- Ending Indigenous Homelessness in Calgary (Calgary Homeless Foundation)
- Building Community & Indigenous Governance (2018)
- The healing journey process: learning from the life stories of Indigenous women having experienced homelessness in Montreal (2018)
- The Right to Housing For First Nations Communities On Reserve (2018)
- Indigenous Independent Housing (2018)
- Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition (2018)
- Victoria Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness (2017)
Edmonton:
- Nikihk Aboriginal Housing First Bent Arrow Housing Society
- Housing First Program Native Counselling Services of Alberta
- Oskapewis/Indigenous Cultural Helper Program
- Educational Helper at Homeward Trust Edmonton contact karmstrong@homewardtrust.ca
- The Indigenous Cultural Helper Program: Report of Research Findings (2018)
- Housing First in Edmonton Nikihk Housing/Homeward Trust (COH, 2013) Chapter from Housing First in Canada book
- Perspectives on the Housing First Program with Indigenous Participants (Homeward Trust, 2011)
Hamilton:
- Homeward Bound: De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre see also July 2018 Hamilton Spectator article
- Endaayaang Youth Housing First: Hamilton Regional Indian Centre (Nov 2017) and an update article (Jan 2019) – one of 12 “A Way Home-Making the Shift “demonstration projects over 2017-2019) – Indigenous Housing First for Youth (HF4Y) Model video (9 mins)
North Bay:
- Suswin Housing First Program – North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre (CAEH18 presentation)
Ottawa:
Winnipeg:
- A Place to Call Home: Aboriginal Health and Wellness Centre
- Localizing Housing First as a Culturally Responsive Approach to Understanding and Addressing Urban Indigenous Homelessness (Urban Aboriginal Knowledge Network, 2018)
- Resource Assistance for Youth (RaY) – Incorporating Indigenous Teachings Helps Youth Succeed (Parity, 2019)
Vancouver – RainCity Housing:
Program Areas
Emergency Shelter | Diversion | Outreach | Housing Help and Landlords | Housing with Support | Prevention | Partnering with Other Systems | Peers and Lived Experience | Indigenous Resources