Human Resources committee  That's correct.

Human Resources committee  I think the thing worthy of mentioning is that your colleague Blake Desjarlais mentioned the unmet need, the need in urban indigenous communities. Concerning the proposal call, when NICHI received the $281.5 million, we received 447 proposals valued at $2.2 billion. We had $281 million.

Human Resources committee  It empowers people. It empowers the community organizations to rise up and find their own solutions to their housing challenges. Then as the youth come up, they see their own community finding solutions. They see their own community delivering programs and delivering services. It gives them a different perspective: “Hey, I can be successful because, look, we can do this together for us.”

Human Resources committee  Thanks very much for for the question. The for indigenous, by indigenous approach is one where 147 indigenous housing providers across Canada have come together and said, “This is what we want. We want to find solutions that work for our community.” They want solutions that aren't government driven, solutions that aren't trying to fit a round peg into a square hole.

Human Resources committee  That's correct.

Human Resources committee  I think there are a number of causes. It would be everything from outright racism to employment opportunities, education and training. Just participation in the economy and in society in general, I think, are some challenges that indigenous communities face, or indigenous populations face, especially in urban settings.

Human Resources committee  Thank you. My name is John Gordon. I am the CEO of National Indigenous Collaborative Housing Inc. I'm very pleased to be here today to appear in front of the committee and offer my insights into the matters being studied. NICHI, National Indigenous Collaborative Housing Inc. is a collaboration of 147 indigenous housing providers from across Canada from coast to coast to coast.