Housing needs of Indigenous seniors in Winnipeg identified

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This article was published 29/10/2024 (399 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Indigenous seniors in Winnipeg who took part in a two-year research project said they felt they had no option but to live in low-quality housing in unsafe areas of the city.

The report stemming from that research says it’s time for more residential developments for Indigenous people to be based on Indigenous principles.

“Minosin Kikiwa,” a report commissioned by the Manitoba chapter of the non-partisan, independent Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, outlined eight actions to address the need for affordable housing reserved for Indigenous people.

“(Indigenous people) know what they need, and they need to be involved right from the get-go,” said Lucille Bruce, the co-chair of the group’s Indigenous seniors research committee. “We need to look at housing models that truly respect Indigenous peoples’ worldview and that are culturally appropriate.”

The report, released Tuesday, is based on the experiences of Indigenous people aged 55 and older who were interviewed about housing, income and their feeling of social stability.

Minosin Kikiwa translates to “a good home” in Swampy Cree. The 42-page document found Indigenous adults are more likely to have low incomes and need to work longer than their non-Indigenous counterparts, which results in housing inequality.

Laura Funk, a sociology professor at the University of Manitoba who worked on the report, said participants said social safety net payments such as the Canada Pension Plan and Employment Income Assistance (if they were still eligible for it) are insufficient, which meant they lived in unsafe and inaccessible housing.

The report states 19 per cent of the 48 participants owned their own home and 58 per cent were renters. Ten participants were either homeless or in transitional housing at the time of the research and several indicated they had been homeless at some point.

Funk said many had to settle for low-quality housing.

“Participants spoke of feeling on guard and often scared within the spaces, worried about break-ins and so forth,” Funk said.

Bruce said the goal project was to learn from participants about gaps, inequities and their needs.

“And what needed to be changed when it comes to housing and supporting their well-being, so they can remain in their homes as long as possible,” she said.

Statistics Canada figures show Winnipeg has the largest Indigenous population in Canada. The 2021 census recorded 102, 080 residents who identified themselves as Indigenous.

Among other things, the report recommends ensuring affordability, offering more multi-family options, making senior transportation more available and ensuring the creation of an independent seniors advocate office in Manitoba.

Lucille said she hopes the report will be considered by all three levels of government.

“The life experiences of Indigenous older seniors really differs from non-Indigenous seniors’ experiences because of the historical impact of colonization and residential schools,” Bruce said. “As a result of that, it’s left our community of Indigenous seniors experiencing continued trauma, generational poverty, huge issues for our seniors.”

In the spring the provincial government introduced legislation that would create an independent seniors advocate who would report to the legislature, similar to the role of the advocate for children and youth.

nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca