First Nations Data Collection

The First Nation Data Collection team co-created a culturally sensitive and trauma-informed data collection toolkit that can be tailored to the unique needs of individual First Nation Communities. It allows First Nations communities across Turtle Island to better understand and address houselessness, while improving the accuracy and relevance of First Nations houselessness data.  

Using storytelling and knowledge gathering, we gained insights into the complex nature of houselessness experienced by First Nations Peoples. This approach ensured that our toolkit was developed based on the lived realities and aspirations of the communities involved, both empowering them and aligning with the broader goals of the National Housing Strategy. 

A significant focus of this project has been highlighting the resilience and strength of First Nations communities in the face of houselessness challenges. This emphasis on resilience represents a shift in perspective, acknowledging not only the adversities these communities face but also their inherent strength, wisdom, and resourcefulness in overcoming such challenges. 

The project promises to influence housing policies and practices, ensuring they are more attuned to the needs of First Nations communities through the provision of accurate and culturally sensitive data. The approach has highlighted the importance of community-centric research and tool development, advocating for solutions that are deeply embedded in the unique cultural contexts of the communities. 

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) Government of Canada National Housing Strategy’s Research and Planning Fund (RPF).  

This project was funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy through the Community Capacity and Innovation Stream

The stories and knowledge shared during our community conversations deeply informed the creation of our survey, guiding us to create questions that reflect the community’s experiences with houselessness. By understanding houselessness as a tree with deep roots—symbolizing the various underlying factors and branches representing the multitude of supports needed—we designed our survey to capture both the challenges and solutions identified by community members.