AFN National First Nations Homelessness Action Plan

Calling all First Nations leadership and staff, technicians, and program managers whose work includes advocating for resources and providing services to members experiencing homelessness in or away from the community!

The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) has long worked to advocate for improved housing outcomes for First Nations. Building on this work and guided by a resolution from the Chiefs-in-Assembly, the AFN is working towards the development of a National First Nations Homelessness Action Plan (Action Plan). The AFN is also currently engaging with First Nations across Canada to ensure that the Action Plan is First Nations-led and reflects First Nations’ needs and priorities. We invite you to participate in a focus group to inform the development of the Action Plan and other AFN advocacy efforts. This will help to ensure that the specific needs, realities and priorities of your region and community are reflected in this work.

The primary audience for this engagement session is First Nations leadership, staff, technicians, and program managers. This could include program managers such as housing, health, social development, or other program areas which intersect with issues surrounding First Nations homelessness. Key outcomes of discussion may include:

· A First Nations definition of homelessness informed by First Nations experiences;

· Objectives for a National First Nations Homelessness Action Plan;

· A national survey for First Nations leadership and staff, service providers, and community members. The survey is currently in progress, and you can access it here (https://www.afn.ca/national-first-nations-homelessness-action-plan-survey/).

· Resources or partnerships required to eliminate First Nations homelessness; and

· Ways to support First Nations in developing their own homelessness strategies and initiatives.

This series of engagements is just one part of several initiatives and conversations AFN has been conducting to inform the Action Plan. Other initiatives include:

· Research on First Nations homelessness, including a literature review, environmental scan, and a systems map of existing programs and services across Canada;

· Engagements with service providers, advocates, and other experts working in the homelessness sector;

· A national survey for First Nations leadership and staff, service providers, and community members; and

· A National First Nations Homelessness Symposium (June 2021).

Further engagement will be planned to ensure that a wide range of community input informs the development of the Action Plan, including opportunities to review and validate the draft Action Plan.

If you cannot attend these sessions, please consider completing the AFN’s national survey for First Nations leadership and staff, service providers, and community members which can be accessed here. The survey is intended to allow us to hear from First Nations leaders and staff, service providers, and

community members to help strengthen understandings of First Nations experiences of homelessness and identify how the Action Plan can advocate for improved programs and services for First Nations experiencing homelessness.

If you are interested in attending a session, please follow the link to pre-register. Please note there is limited space available:

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Should you have any other questions, comments, or concerns about the AFN’s work on a National First Nations Homelessness Action Plan, please contact Jordan Fischer, Senior Policy Analyst, at jfischer@afn.ca. The AFN looks forward to advancing this important work, together.