Four new homes announced for Indigenous women and children in the Sault

The Ontario government is providing more than $550,000 to Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services to help create safe and affordable housing for Indigenous women and their children in Sault Ste. Marie. 

The funding provided through the province's Social Services Relief Fund enables OAHS to purchase four three-bedroom houses, which will be used as single-family homes for Indigenous women fleeing domestic violence, who are homeless or at risk of homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“These four homes are going to allow Indigenous ladies in our community with children who are trying to get out of a cycle of violence, or trying to get help leaving a violent household, to be able to have a household to turn to that will provide them a safe home for them and their families, and to ensure that they’re not turning to homelessness - so that they can find a safe place to stay,” said Sault Ste. Marie MPP Ross Romano, who made the announcement Friday on behalf of Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark.

The houses were renovated through a partnership between Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services and the Sault Ste. Marie Indian Friendship Centre, which utilized a local skills training program in order to complete the renovations.

OAHS Executive Director Justin Marchand says the housing organization has grown from serving 7,500 people across the province to 11,000 in the past three years, while OAHS staff has grown from 40 to 100 province-wide within the same time period. 

He says there’s still a long way to go, as there are over 80,000 Indigenous people in Ontario that don’t have access to safe, affordable housing. 

“Right here in Sault Ste. Marie, we’ve gone from 30 staff to over 55 staff, and that is simply a reflection of the need that is out there, and I believe it’s a reflection of that fact that Minister Romano and Minister Clark have listened and have heard where the issues are, and they’re lending that support,” Marchand said. 

Sault Ste. Marie Indian Friendship Centre Executive Director calls partnerships with Indigenous organizations like OAHS an integral part of development, employment and youth engagement locally.

“It’s such an inner satisfaction to be helping our people in our community - our moms and our children and our families," she said. "It’s just so satisfying.”

Syrette says that at least 12 per cent of Sault Ste. Marie’s total population is Indigenous.