Affordable housing coming to west Edmonton for members of Paul First Nation
New affordable housing in Edmonton will give members of the Paul First Nation the chance to own their own homes.
The project involves the construction of 24 new affordable rental and rent-to-own units in west Edmonton for Paul First Nation members.
The units will be built on a plot of land at 165 Street and 100 Avenue.
“It’s very exciting,” said Paul First Nation council member Myrna Rabbit.
“This is ours, and it’s a reality, and it’s going to be homes for 24 of our families from our community.”
Artist renderings of the affordable housing units being built in west Edmonton. (Source: ARA Concepts)
Rabbit says the Paul First Nation has about 2,400 registered members. About 400 live on reserve, but more than 500 live in Edmonton.
“Many have moved off reserve due to post-secondary education, employment, and some just because we don’t have enough homes in our community,” she said.
“Some of our people want to return home, but we don’t have enough homes.”
The project is being funded by a $3 million partnership between the federal and provincial governments.
The City of Edmonton provided a $1.5 million grant, and the Paul Band Property Management Corporation will contribute a minimum of $685,000 to cover its contribution toward the total capital costs.
Paul First Nations is also working with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation to secure up to $4.5 million through the National Housing Co-Investment Fund, and $250,000 in seed funding.
The funding provided by the province is coming from the Indigenous Housing Capital Program, which supports Indigenous governments and communities to build affordable off-reserve, off-settlement, and on-settlement housing.
“The availability of affordable, accessible off-reserve housing is important. These 24 units supported by IHCP for Paul First Nation provide equitable access and necessary supports in urban areas,” said Rick Wilson, minister of Indigenous relations in a written release.
This is the first time the IHCP has provided home ownership opportunities.
“This is one of the greatest opportunities, to be able to have a home off-reserve, and owning it,” Rabbit said.
“I’m very proud that Paul First Nation has led the way.”
An application process is currently underway to claim the units, and the new residents will be notified by the end of October.
Rabbit says construction of the units is expected to be complete by June or July of 2024.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Nahreman Issa.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Prince William says wife Kate is 'doing well'
Prince William said on Friday his wife Kate was 'doing well' in a rare public comment about the Princess of Wales as she undergoes preventative chemotherapy for cancer.
BREAKING Canadian Blood Services apologizes to LGBTQ2S+ community for discriminatory blood donation policy
Canadian Blood Services issued an apology on Friday to the LGBTQ2S+ community for what it now admits was a harmful and discriminatory blood donation policy that prevented sexually active men who have sex with men and some trans people from donating blood and plasma.
BREAKING 'Just wait': Toronto mayor hints that WNBA team is coming to the city amid multiple reports
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow says that she is hopeful an announcement could be made soon amid multiple reports that a WNBA team is coming to Toronto in 2026.
Magnitude 4.2 earthquake reported off Vancouver Island's west coast
A 4.2-magnitude earthquake was recorded west of Vancouver Island early Friday morning.
Ontario coroner to investigate death of man who suffered cardiac arrest while waiting in ER
A provincial coroner will be investigating the death of 68-year-old David Lippert, who suffered a cardiac arrest while waiting in a crowded emergency room in Kitchener, Ont.
'Irate male' assaulted Newfoundland officers with block of cheese, police say
Police in Newfoundland say patrol officers were assaulted Thursday by a "very irate male" wielding a block of cheese.
Dashcam video shows terrifying near-miss on two-lane northern Ontario highway
There were some scary moments for several people on a northern Ontario highway caught on video Thursday after a chain reaction following a truck fire.
Average hourly wage in Canada now $34.95: StatCan
Average hourly wages among Canadian employees rose to $34.95 on a year-over-year basis in April, a 4.7 per cent increase, according to a Statistics Canada report released Friday morning.
This iconic Canadian song is turning 50
Andy Kim's 'Rock Me Gently' is marking a major milestone, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.