Chapleau Cree First Nation and the Rapid Housing Initiative
Since 1991, Chapleau Cree First Nation members have provided homes for their community members on reserve. They have a long history of providing safe homes for their people to address housing shortages. So, when the opportunity to explore the benefits of Rapid Housing, the community jumped on a project to bring it to their reserve. The Rapid Housing Initiative Project helped build 6 housing units for the Chapleau Cree First Nation.
The Economic Development Officer, Peggy Domingue, stated she quickly saw the opportunity to build multiple units through the Rapid Housing Initiative. During the first round of applying, there was not enough money, and while on the wait list, they were invited back to the second round of applications. She excitedly submitted for the second round and successfully gained the funds to build these homes.
Chapleau Cree First Nation members were very proud of their accomplishments and hoped to see other First Nation communities participate in the Rapid Housing Initiative Project. The two triplexes with six housing units started the build on May 3, 2023, and because of the architectural design, the roofs had to be constructed on-site. The buildings were completed in less than six months.
The Rapid Housing Initiative Program funded the project upfront. This means that the First Nation required no cash management.
Because of the size of the units, the roofs had to be constructed onsite.
They were very excited to see the units arrive. In one day, they had homes, whereas just a few weeks earlier, the land was all bush.
“When you show a tenant around and you hand over the keys, it’s a feeling like no other. Knowing that you’re helping a young family get started, or seniors that need a place to stay, or people that don’t have a home or are under-housed, that feeling of satisfaction makes all these extra, all these extras worthwhile, it’s such a sense of pride".
The first time I drove by there, and I saw all the lights on, I think I had tears in my eyes” – Peggy Domingue YouTube FNHC 2022 Success Stories
Some challenges they faced while building the triplexes were the winter weather and the late spring arrival. Giant rocks hid underground also posed challenges—the water from the springs that run off and the high-water tables. The mud, also made stake settings challenging. The enormous boulders in the ground were replaced with clean fill so they wouldn’t have any problems later. Another challenge was the ongoing lack of tradespeople in the north.
When COVID-19 hit, the housing wait list grew longer as the First Nation community members wanted to return home.
The Chapleau Cree First Nation community is proud and excited about this project. The two completed triplexes were built through the Rapid Housing Initiative on Chapleau Cree First Nation, and each triplex has three 2-bedroom units.
A tenant moved in on September 24, 2022, and Triplex B was completed shortly after, and they also showcased Triplex B to their community members.
Every unit will be filled with tenants in less than six months from when they started building.
“We would not have been able to accommodate the tenants without the Rapid Housing Initiative.”
– Peggy Domingue
By: Tricia Cook, Content Navigator