The Home Maintenance Program
The Home Maintenance Program (HMP) is a web-based course offered by the First Nations Technical Services Advisory Group Inc. The program is for Housing Departments, Technical organizations, Tribal Councils, or individuals wanting to expand their knowledge in the housing maintenance field.
Did you know the average lifespan of a house off-reserve is more than 60 years? The average lifespan of a house on reserve is less than 30 years. Houses that are regularly maintained typically have a longer lifespan because you are doing your part to keep the house in great condition. Some or most of the tasks involved in maintaining your home can be done by the tenant of the house, or if you need any help, you can always ask a professional.
The First Nations Technical Services Advisory Group Inc. (TSAG) offers the program online. The course consists of topics about health and safety for you and tips and tricks for your Do-It-Yourself repairs. The Home Maintenance Program offers information and training for tenants and First Nations Housing Departments.
The Home Maintenance Program is divided into six sections to make learning easier. Chapter's include:
- HM1 Pride in your Nation’s assets
- HM2 Health and safety
- HM3 Everything you need to know
- HM5 Your Home Maintenance Start-up Kit
- HM5a How to
- HM6 HM Resources and checklist
The HMP offers a wide range of learning topics from electrical work, plumbing, owning pets and wood staining your deck. TSAG (First Nations Technical Services Advisory Group Inc.) has an online learning centre with a vast library of resources to help you. The online learning centre has hundreds of PDFs, checklists and videos that were made to inform you about your home maintenance projects. These videos were designed as ‘instructional how-to’ guides for maintaining your home which will also be beneficial to your health and safety in your home.
The course also offers a section for the youth in your home. This program is called ‘Keeper of My Home’. It teaches children and youth about taking care of their home through learning games and activities.
The Keeper of My Home was built on four themes. Students in each grade learn about housing through these themes:
- The traditional teaching of the Community – learners interact with elders, knowledge keepers and community members to gain knowledge about caring for their homes.
- First Nation Housing Topics – learning about the houses and buildings in the community, debunking stereotypes of on-reserve housing and the older learners can expand their knowledge by learning how to budget, finding a place to rent, or buying a home off or on reserve.
- Home Maintenance – teaching them to take care of their homes, and the responsibilities in their home, inspecting the home for any damage or repairs, using water responsibly and following the housing rules, regulations, and policies for their community.
- Home Safety – learning about fire safety (Emergency Evacuation Plan) in case of fire, potential health hazards (cleaning supplies), and careers and community planning.
The Keeper of My Home resource is free and can be used in the classroom, or online educational e-games for First Nation students from kindergarten through grade twelve at on-reserve schools, however, it can be used by everyone to educate the youth.
Educators created the lessons in each unit, and there are resources with provincial and territorial goals in mind. The online resource engages youth to learn about housing through collaborative exercises, independent research, interactive games, and community involvement.
This program was designed for teachers and educators of all kinds to teach everyone including children and youth preparing them for the future when they rent or own their own home or apartment. Providing them with knowledge through guidance, elders, and mentors by connecting them with knowledge keepers, traditions, and values, children and youth can benefit by learning about housing through teaching materials and online games. The First Nations Housing Professionals Association and Keeper of My Home program can be contacted by email at info@keeperofmyhome.ca.
These resources are free on the First Nations Housing Professionals Association (FNHPA) website. The FNHPA wants to engage the youth by making them aware of their rights, responsibilities, traditions, and values. You can sign up for The Home Maintenance Program at https://tsag.net/home-maintenance-program-registration/.
Housing Managers can use this tool before giving the keys to the tenant to ensure that they are educated and informed about their responsibilities to keep their home well maintained and to provide information about the housing department's responsibilities. This program was designed for teachers/educators to teach children the responsibilities of keeping your home safe and well-maintained.
By: Tricia Cook, Content Navigator