The Squamish Nation is moving forward on a plan to build 1,000 units of affordable housing for its community over the course of about a decade.
Nation spokesperson, Khelsilem (Dustin Rivers) co-presented the plan to the Nation’s chiefs and council this week, and it passed unanimously, he announced on Twitter.
Khelsilem successfully campaigned in the lead up to the December election on addressing the housing crunch faced by many Nation members.
The Nation has a total of 4,047 members. Of those, 2,076 live on-reserve, while 1,971 live off-reserve.
“The plan is to create an independent Squamish Nation housing authority that we will give land to develop medium and high density non-profit rental housing for our citizens,” Khelsilem said on Twitter.
Housing was a significant theme in the run-up to the election, and members were looking for action on this issue from the new council.
A council committee will identify a consultant to work for the Nation to develop the housing authority, which will have its own board of directors.
The authority would then hire a professional team to manage the housing units and develop new units over the next 12 years. The goal is 1,000 units, he said. The homes will all be on First Nation reserve lands in North Vancouver and the Squamish Valley.
