Henry Hunter, President and CEO of Wood Buffalo Housing, and Cameron MacDonald, President of Metis Nation of Alberta Local 125 Fort Chipewyan, sign a Memorandum of Understanding agreeing the organizations will work together to find affordable housing solutions for the northern hamlet.

Photo credit: Wood Buffalo Housing
HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTO AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

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Affordable housing in Fort Chipewyan was the subject of a Memorandum of Understanding signed Friday by Wood Buffalo Housing and Métis Nation of Alberta Local 125 Fort Chipewyan.

“We are excited to be working with Métis Local 125 to address housing issues in Fort Chipewyan,” said Henry Hunter, President and CEO of Wood Buffalo Housing. “Affordable housing in particular is a major concern for both of our organizations. We are looking forward to collaborating to find long-term sustainable solutions that will benefit the community.”

“Signing this MOU makes it possible to help our members with the issue of housing, as there is a shortage of housing in the community,” said Cameron MacDonald, President of Métis Nation of Alberta Local 125 Fort Chipewyan. “Formalizing our relationship with Wood Buffalo Housing is the first step in working together to address gaps in program and service delivery. We look forward to working together to bring these issues forward to the municipality, the province, and other groups associated with safe and affordable housing.”

The signing of the MOU is the first step in creating a collaborative framework for addressing common issues, which include:

• Ensuring Fort Chipewyan residents have access to safe and quality affordable housing by addressing existing and projected future unmet needs;
• Maximizing the effectiveness of affordable housing investment in Fort Chipewyan, including an analysis of program and service gaps between the hamlet, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, and the Province of Alberta;
• Conducting a review of best practices for affordable housing as they apply to Fort Chipewyan;
• Working together on ongoing issues related to affordable housing, including prioritizing the development of new affordable housing opportunities in Fort Chipewyan.

Among the next steps for the groups is to create an Affordable Housing Action Plan which will outline short-term, medium-term, and long-term actions required to address affordable housing in Fort Chipewyan.

About Wood Buffalo Housing

Founded in 2001, Wood Buffalo Housing is the lead non-profit housing agency in our region. We collaborate with our many stakeholders, including tenants, community groups, non-profits, industry and government to pursue safe and sustainable housing solutions for all of the people of our community. Since 2001, we’ve helped more than 7,000 people – those new to our community and those making a new start – find the right apartment, the right townhouse, and the right way to achieve home ownership.

About Métis Nation of Alberta Local 125 Fort Chipewyan

Formed in 1990, Métis Local 125 has recently owned their own office in which the Local has a gateway to their members to help those members with social issues such as housing, education, and health.

Media contact info

To arrange for a media interview, please contact:

Wood Buffalo Housing

Laurie Parker
Manager Corporate Administration
Phone: 780-799-4049
E-mail: laurie@wbhousing.ca

Métis Nation of Alberta Local 125 Fort Chipewyan Office

Phone: 780-697-3111