Resources to look at housing crisis for rural Indigenous Populations in BC

Residents of rural, remote and Indigenous communities face much greater healthcare disparities than other residents of B.C. The problems are most pronounced in Indigenous communities, where there’s been a shameful history of lack of equity to access to healthcare resources. (In pursuit of equity and access to healthcare in rural, remote and Indigenous communities, 2021) In addition to facing the disproportionate burden of health inequality, indigenous people also continue to be the most socioeconomically disadvantaged and marginalized populations. 

In 2019, the National Housing Strategy Act declared that “the right to adequate housing is a fundamental human right affirmed in international law” and recognized that having an affordable and safe place to live gives individuals and families the environment they need to succeed, grow and live in dignity. (StatCan, 2022) Yet, numerous Canadians live in substandard housing, predominantly those living in rural remote communities. 

The scarcity of affordable housing has created situations of overcrowding in First Nations and Inuit communities. “Living in crowded housing has been linked to a number of poor health outcomes, including increased risk of transmitting infectious diseases, severe respiratory tract infections, higher rates of injuries, mental health problems and family tensions. (Wien, 2013)

Below is a table that shows the Percentage of Inuit, Métis, First Nation and Non-Aboriginal People Living in Crowded Dwellings in Canada

Housing Condition	Inuit	Metis	First Nation	Non-Aboriginal
Living in Crowded Dwellings	31%	3%	15%	3%
Living in Dwellings in Need of Major Repairs	28%	14%	28%	7%

Source: 1996 and 2006 Census as reported in Statistics Canada, 2008.

The data above shows that Aboriginal people in Canada are much more likely to live in crowded housing conditions than non-Aboriginal Canadians. The quality of the crowded housing is also a number to be noted, 28% of First Nations People living in housing required major repairs. Band housing is designed for the average Canadian family, “ frequently inappropriate to both climate and use and generally devoid of any cultural significance that First Nations have typically placed in their homes.” (MacTavish, 2012) Community members living in band housing often do not have the skill or the motivation to maintain the homes. Without adequate funding for maintenance from the band council, the houses are likely to fall to despair conditions.  

Despite international recognition of housing as a fundamental human right, a substantial portion of Canadians, particularly in rural remote areas, endure substandard living conditions.

Works Cited

In pursuit of equity and access to healthcare in rural, remote and Indigenous communities. ( 2021, June 14). Retrieved from www.med.ubc.ca: https://www.med.ubc.ca/giving/in-pursuit-of-equity-and-access-to-healthcare-in-rural-remote-and-indigenous-communities/

Leimbigler, B. L. (2022 ). Social, political, commercial, and corporate determinants of rural health equity in Canada: an integrated framework. Can J Public Health 113, 749–754.

MacTavish, T. M.-O. (2012). A participatory process for the design of housing for a First Nations Community. Journal of Housing and the Built Environment , 207–24. http://www.jstor.org/stable/41487485

StatCan. (2022, 09 20). Housing conditions among First Nations people, Métis and Inuit in Canada from the 2021 Census. Retrieved from Statistics Canada: https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/as-sa/98-200-X/2021007/98-200-X2021007-eng.cfm

Wien, C. R. (2013). In pursuit of equity and access to healthcare in rural, remote and Indigenous communities.Prince George, BC: National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health .