Chapter 2: Lesson 2

hrycaym

43 Lesson 2:

Outcomes

Explain the concept of a housing community plan and its importance in community development
Outline the steps needed to create a housing plan, project, or program
Detail the steps for submitting project proposals to ISC and CMHC
Develop a mock housing plan using real-world scenarios within your community

Housing Community Plan and Its Importance

A housing community plan is a strategic document that guides the development, implementation, and management of housing in a specific community. It outlines the community’s housing needs, objectives, and strategies to achieve these objectives.

For Indigenous communities, a housing community plan is crucial for several reasons:

It provides a roadmap for housing development, ensuring that housing initiatives align with community needs and aspirations.
It helps to prioritize housing needs and resources, and establishes a framework for decision-making.
It encourages community involvement and ownership in housing matters, fostering a sense of community identity and cohesion.

Hypothetical Examples of First Nation Community Housing Plans

Remote Northern Community
A remote First Nations community in Northern Canada identifies a need for energy-efficient housing to reduce living costs. The community develops a housing plan that includes strategies for retrofitting existing homes with insulation and solar panels, and for building new homes using energy-efficient designs. The plan includes training community members in construction skills, creating jobs, and boosting the local economy.
Urban Community
An urban First Nations community in a major city is facing issues of affordability and homelessness. The community’s housing plan involves partnering with a local non-profit to develop a new affordable housing complex. The plan also includes strategies for supporting community members to access rental assistance programs and other supports.

Steps to Create a Housing Plan, Project, or Program

Formulating a robust and effective housing plan, project, or program is an instrumental aspect of community development, particularly in First Nations communities. It paves the way for sustainable growth, addresses the unique needs of the community, and aligns with the community’s cultural, economic, and environmental goals. The following steps outline a systematic and inclusive approach to creating such a housing plan:

Needs Assessment: The foundation of any housing plan lies in the comprehensive understanding of the community’s housing needs. This is often achieved through a variety of data gathering methods like surveys, direct community consultations, and analysis of demographic data. It provides insights into the existing housing conditions, future demands, and any gaps that need to be addressed.
Set Objectives: Based on the gathered data and insights, it’s important to establish clear, achievable objectives for the housing plan. These objectives could be broad (such as improving overall housing conditions) or specific (like reducing the number of homes in disrepair). Setting objectives provides a clear direction for the plan.
Develop Strategies: With clear objectives in place, the next step involves outlining the strategies to achieve these objectives. Depending on the unique needs and objectives of the community, this could include plans for new housing development, renovations of existing structures, maintenance programs, or policies aimed at supporting affordable housing.
Implementation Plan: Now comes the action stage. This involves detailing how the outlined strategies will be implemented. It includes assigning responsibilities, setting timelines, and identifying required resources, both in terms of finances and manpower. The implementation plan acts as a roadmap for putting the strategies into action.
Monitor and Review: Lastly, but crucially, it’s important to establish a process for regular monitoring and review of the housing plan. This helps assess the effectiveness of the plan and ensures it continues to meet the evolving needs of the community. It may involve regular status updates, performance measurement against set objectives, and stakeholder feedback mechanisms. Monitoring and review enable continual improvement and ensure the housing plan remains relevant and effective over time.

By following these steps, communities can develop a comprehensive housing plan that not only addresses their immediate housing needs but also fosters long-term, sustainable community development.

Submitting Project Proposals to ISC and CMHC

A housing manager in a First Nations community may submit a housing plan, project proposal, or program to Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) or the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) for several reasons:

Funding: The ISC and CMHC provide financial assistance to First Nations communities for various housing initiatives. These may include the construction of new housing, renovation and rehabilitation of existing units, implementation of housing policies, and execution of housing programs. Therefore, if a First Nations community is planning any housing-related project or program, submitting a proposal to these organizations can help secure crucial funding to support the project.
Expertise and Support: Both the ISC and CMHC have significant experience in housing policy and projects, particularly those related to Indigenous communities. Submitting a plan or proposal to these entities can provide access to this wealth of knowledge and expertise. They can offer guidance, recommendations, and technical assistance that can significantly contribute to the success of the housing initiative.
Regulatory Compliance: Submitting a proposal to the ISC and CMHC ensures that the project or program is in compliance with relevant regulations and guidelines. This can be particularly important when federal funding is involved or if the project is subject to federal oversight.
Capacity Building: Both organizations provide capacity building support to First Nations communities. This can include training and education, resources to help manage the project or program, and support in developing and implementing housing policies.
Partnership Building: Submitting a proposal can also be a step towards building a strong partnership with these organizations, which could lead to future collaboration and support for other community initiatives.

In conclusion, a housing manager in a First Nations community might see significant benefits in submitting a housing plan, project proposal, or program to the ISC or CMHC. Not only could it potentially secure necessary funding, but it could also provide expert support, ensure regulatory compliance, aid in capacity building, and strengthen partnerships.

How to submit a proposal:

To submit project proposals to Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), follow these steps:

Project Development
Develop a detailed project proposal, outlining the project objectives, scope, budget, timeline, and expected outcomes.
Application
Fill out the required application forms for ISC or CMHC. The application will typically require information about the organization, the community, and the project.
Supporting Documentation
Provide supporting documents as required, such as proof of community consent, environmental assessments, or business case analyses.
Submission
Submit the application and supporting documents via the designated method (online, by mail, etc.)
Follow-up
Respond to any queries or requests for additional information from ISC or CMHC.

Journal Question

Using the forum labelled “Course 3: Chapter 2” make a journal entry responding to the prompt below. Ensure that you title the entry “Lesson 2”. After writing a journal entry, go and make a comment on two other posts from your classmates. It can be about anything you noticed, liked, agreed with etc. The idea is to continue the dialogue about the topic.

Criteria	Exemplary 4	Accomplished 3	Developing 2	Beginning 1
Purpose	Strong voice and tone that clearly addresses the purpose for writing.	Appropriate voice and tone. The purpose is largely clear.	Attempts to use personal voice and tone. Somewhat addresses the intended purpose.	Demonstrates limited awareness of use of voice and tone. Limited evidence of intended purpose.
Understanding	Many interesting, specific facts and ideas are included.	Many facts and ideas are included.	Some facts and ideas are included.	Few facts and ideas are included.
Conventions	All grammar and spelling is correct.	Only one or two grammar and spelling errors.	A few grammar and spelling errors.	Many grammar and spelling errors.
Reply	Made two significant contributions to the online forum. Highly supportive of others.	Made one contribution to the online forum. Supported group members.	Attempted to contribute to online forum but was vague and unclear in the writing.	Minimally involved. Offered limited support to online group members.

Prompt: Reflect on the importance of a housing community plan for Indigenous communities. Think about the hypothetical examples provided and consider the steps involved in creating such a plan. As a housing manager in a First Nations community, how would you prioritize the needs of your community?

Works Cited

43

Lesson 2: