Calgary launches program to support Indigenous-led housing developments

Key Takeaways:

• The City of Calgary has launched a $30 million program, Maa’too’maa’taapii Aoko’iyii’piaya, to support Indigenous-led non-market housing, with the goal of creating 150 to 350 new units.
• Indigenous people represent just 3% of Calgary’s population but account for over 41% of those experiencing homelessness, highlighting the urgent need for culturally safe and affordable housing options.
• The program, developed in collaboration with Indigenous Elders, provides both planning grants and construction funding, ensuring housing is designed, delivered, and owned by Indigenous communities themselves.

The Whole Story:

The City of Calgary has launched a $30 million program to support Indigenous-led housing projects, marking its first initiative built on the principle of “For Indigenous, By Indigenous.”

The program, called Maa’too’maa’taapii Aoko’iyii’piaya — which means “Indigenous First Nation Housing” in Blackfoot — is expected to create between 150 and 350 new non-market housing units. It was developed in collaboration with the Housing Solutions Elders Advisory Committee and officially launches Aug. 25.

City officials said the initiative is designed to address systemic barriers Indigenous communities face in accessing housing, land, and capital. Indigenous people account for just 3% of Calgary’s population but make up more than 41% of those experiencing homelessness, according to city data.

“Through this program, The City is taking practical, resourced action, placing trust, funding, and decision-making power into the hands of Indigenous communities themselves,” Mayor Jyoti Gondek said in a statement.

The funding will be distributed through two streams: up to $150,000 over two years for engagement and planning activities, and contributions covering up to 40% of capital costs for construction of Indigenous-led housing developments.

City Chief Housing Officer Reid Hendry said the program aims not only to increase housing supply but also to ensure it is “designed, delivered, and owned by and for Indigenous Peoples, ultimately redefining what housing can look like when it is rooted in Indigenous knowledge, values, and self-determination.”

More than 3,800 Indigenous households in Calgary are considered in housing need, with many earning less than $20,000 annually and requiring rent below $500 per month to be affordable. Community leaders said the program responds to urgent needs while promoting culturally safe housing.

“Our people need housing that is affordable, places where we can be safe, where families can stay together, and where we can heal,” said Jackie Bromley of the Kainai Nation, a member of the Elders Advisory Committee who helped gift the program’s name in ceremony.

The city said the program aligns with its Indigenous Policy, housing strategy for 2024–2030, and other frameworks aimed at reducing inequities through Indigenous-led solutions.