Intertribal Life Newspaper -

OTTAWA, Ont.-Help is on the way for those who are homeless in one of the Mi'kmaw communities in Nova Scotia.

The federal government is sponsoring a 24-unit project in the Sipekne'katik First Nation, which will be constructed through the federal rapid housing initiative, with half of the units targeted to women and children.

The federal rapid housing initiative was first announced last fall with the goal to initially create up to 3,000 permanent, affordable housing units across the country. An additional $1.5 billion for the initiative was included in the recent federal budget, with the goal of actually creating 9,200 units eventually

"This 20 that will go into our community, we're very grateful and we're happy to have," Sipekne'katik Chief Mike Sack said. He explained that a home needs assessment completed two years ago found that houses in the community needed $10 million in improvements to bring them up to standards, he said. The First Nation's housing list also indicated a need for 395 homes.

The project received $681,340 from the Sipekne'katik First Nation, including $100,000 provided to Sipekne'katik by Indigenous Services Canada.

Last month, the federal government announced $3.16 million in funding for 24 affordable housing units in the Paqtnkek Mi'kmaw Nation and We'koqma'q First Nation as part of the rapid housing initiative.

Ahmed Hussen, federal minister of families, children and social development said at least 25 per cent of the new funding will go toward women-focused housing projects. All units will be constructed within 12 months of when funding is provided to the applicants.

Last December, Halifax Mayor Mike Savage said roughly $8.6 million would be used to fund rapid housing initiatives in the municipality.

The funding would be shared among Adsum House, the North End Community Health Association and the Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre.