Rapid Housing Initiative aims to build 85 homes in seven northwestern Ontario Indigenous communities

Eighty-five new homes will be built in northwestern Ontario Indigenous communities through the federal government's Rapid Housing Initiative.

The government is providing $21 million in funding for the project, which will see the homes built in:

• Anishinabe of Wauzhushk Onigum Nation
• Deer Lake First Nation
• Eagle Lake First Nation
• Iskatewizaagegan #39 Independent First Nation
• Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug
• Mishkeegogamang First Nation
• and Webequie First Nation.

The announcement was made last week byAhmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, andMarc Serr, Member of Parliament for Nickel Belt and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources.

The funding is coming as communities see increased levels of homelessness, and demand for housing, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Several of the communities released statements about the funding, outlining how many homes will be constructed.

In Eagle Lake, 10 modular housing units will be built, while five modular homes and 10 regular homes will be constructed inKitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug.

The funding will allowMishkeegogamang First Nation to build five houses, while Webequie will see 14 new housing units two four-plexesand one six-plex constructed.

WebequieChiefCornelius Wabassesaid his community is receiving $3.7 million from the government, and is also contributing $415,000 of its ownto the new housing units.

"With this investment, we will be addressing overcrowding for at least 14 families in our community and helping the most vulnerable especially at this time of the global pandemic," Wabasse said in a statement. "They will be in their much needed homes by this fall."