Manitoba Real Estate Association spokesperson Harry DeLeeuw congratulates Vickie Bushie’s son Jeffrey on the family’s new home. The family will get to celebrate Christmas in their own homes this year thanks to a special housing program to help First Nations families become homeowners.
First Nations families that bought their first homes recently have seen their investment increase an average $25,000 in just three years thanks to a new housing program designed to get more Aboriginal families into homes they own – instead of renting.
The Manitoba Tipi Mitawa (MTM) program has supported 11 First Nations families to date as they bought homes in neigbourhoods from Transcona to Elmwood to St. John’s-Inkster. The Manitoba Real Estate Association (MREA) estimates that six families that bought between 2009 and 2011 have seen their personal wealth increase $154,000 in total, thanks to an increase in the value of their homes. The increased home values ranged from $4,000 to $60,000 per home.
“This is exactly what we hoped would happen when we first launched this program five years ago,” says MREA spokesperson Harry DeLeeuw, whose organization also provided one-third of every homeowner’s 15 per cent house down payment.
While the financial returns are impressive, it’s the social returns that are far more impressive, says DeLeeuw, who was part of a MTM team delivering trees to the program’s homeowners this season.
“As we delivered trees from house to house the stories were incredible. Families said they felt more secure in their future and their children’s future because they were in homes they owned, homes they could renovate to their style, homes that allowed their children to grow up with a yard, a dog, a real Christmas tree and attend the same school year after year. That’s a feeling of security and stability that money can’t buy. It improves their quality of life, makes our neighbourhoods healthier and starts to change the urban landscape,” says DeLeeuw.
MREA created, managed and partially funded MTM. It was launched in January 2008 in a joint partnership with the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and Manitoba Tipi Mitawa Inc. Grand Chief Derek Nepinak continues to support the program.
AMC Grand Chief Derek Nepinak
“MTM is a practical example of how the private sector can work with First Nation organizations like the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs to address the housing need in urban centres. By addressing affordable home ownership, we can build a strong foundation that creates real opportunities for those who stand to benefit the most. MTM is a great example of what we all can do to support our First Nations people as housing does much more than provide shelter. It contributes to the revitalization and renewal of communities and families while allowing them the opportunity to create pride in a place they can now call home,” said Grand Chief Nepinak.
The program could not have happened without help from Manitoba Housing and Renewal Corporation (MHRC) and the Government of Canada that provided subsidized mortgage payments and down payment assistance for 12 families to date. MHRC converted existing funds for rental subsidies into mortgage subsidies. Assiniboine Credit Union provided the families with their mortgages.
While the first leg of funding has come to a close, MREA and AMC remain committed to the program and are actively seeking funding for the next stage.
“We promised to do 40 homes and we’re just part way through that promise. Now that we’ve shown it works we are hoping old and new partners will join us to make this a reality for more Aboriginal families,” said DeLeeuw at a Christmas celebration today for the MTM families.
You can learn more about this program by going to www.realestatemanitoba.com/press_release/index.htm
If you would like even more information, you can contact Shirley Muir (for MREA) at smuir@prhouse.ca or at 204.771.7523. You can also contact Sheila North-Wilson (for AMC) at snorthwilson@manitobachiefs.com or at 204.805.1759.
Celebrating a Home at Christmas
Homes make families real
Owning a home for the first time did something amazing for Manitoba Tipi Mitawa family Katina and Kris Cochrane that they weren’t expecting.
“It was weird but when we moved into the house it validated our little family. It said that we were growing together. It showed us that we were committed to each other and we were more established. We’re more invested in being a family now,” says Katina, 26, the mother of two-year-old Kinly.
The Cochranes were the fourth family to be accepted into the MTM program to help First Nations families buy their first home. They chose a house in a neighbourhood near a good school and immediately felt like they were part of a neighbourhood for the first time.
“We didn’t know anyone for four years in our last rental. Now that we’re in a house we know our neighbours and kind of feel like our daughter can play in the yard because our good neighbours are looking out for her too. It’s made a big difference for her,” says Katina, who works in the justice system and is expecting the couple’s second child in April.
“We could always go back home and live in our community, but the downfall is we cannot build equity when we’re on the reserve,” she adds, because the house is not owned by individuals.
“One of the best things about this house is we get to build our future and make our lives a little better financially.”
Harry DeLeeuw and Lorne Weiss of the Manitoba Real Estate Association deliver Christmas tree to new homeowners Katina and Kris Cochrane and their daughter Kinley. They are one of 11 First Nations families who became homeowners thanks to the Manitoba Tipi Mitawa program.
Christmas is better in your own home
This year for the first time Vickie Bushie will celebrate Christmas in a home she owns, and that will make all the difference.
“What’s nice about Christmas in our own home is a real tree. They aren’t even allowed in a rental place. I grew up with a real tree in my family home with my parents, so that’s something I wanted to give my kids,” Vickie says after MREA and AMC representatives brought a fresh tree into her home as a gift.
“This is our first Christmas in this home so instead of all going over Christmas day to the parents’ house and to each grandparent’s, we’re staying home and we’re inviting the whole family to our house – and they’re all excited.”
And a special pre-Christmas gift has already arrived.
“For the last five years, the kids have been wanting a dog. And now that we’ve been able to purchase a home we’ve been able to get them the dog that they wanted.”
Paying rent never paid off
Sonya Chesworth learned early that being a renter was never getting her ahead in life. At age 15, she took over paying rent when, as an only child, both her parents fell ill.
“I was just a kid when the landlady knocked on the door and said the rent was due. We had never struggled until that moment. My parents had always provided for me. So I realized I had to go out and provide for them and I got a job waitressing to pay our rent,” says Sonya, now 31 years old.
That led to a life of one rental place after another – mostly in Winnipeg’s roughest neighbourhoods. Later when she married, it meant living with in-laws sharing the rent to help everyone make ends meet. She and her husband William turned down one landlord’s offer to sell them their rental house for $60,000. Thirteen years later she saw the same house on the market for $210,000.
“We said ‘no’ then because we didn’t understand or realize what an opportunity it was,” says Sonya, who waitresses full time.
But when Sonya’s mother-in-law heard about the Manitoba Tipi Mitawa housing program on the news six years ago, she urged her son William to apply for the program.
“We thought about it for a while and we just figured how much we were paying in rent, and at the end of the day we were still paying for someone else to have a place,” says William Anderson, 31.
Sonya Chesworth, William Anderson and their daughers Illyria (left) and Juliette.
Aboriginal homeownership is possible
Shelley Wilson, a grandmother of seven, bought her home with help from MTM just this fall. She says it is all very new and exciting, especially the reaction of friends when they find out she bought a home.
“I don’t know very many Aboriginal homeowners, so just knowing that I’m in the category of people that own their homes just makes me so proud and I’m really grateful for the opportunity,” says Shelley.
“One of the greatest things about this program for me is I want so badly to show my children and my grandkids what you can do. I’m doing everything for them. They are everything to me, so I’m really just grateful.”
Shelley Wilson and her grandchildren Jerry and Paityn.
Manitoba Tipi Mitawa — By the numbers
11 Number of families supported and moved into their homes
1 Number of families in this phase of the program waiting to find their dream home
$166,700 Average house price at time of purchase between 2009 and 2012
$180,600 Average value of the same homes today
$25,500 Average increase in profits for homes bought between 2009 and 2011
$83,290 MREA’s contribution to date towards down payments on 11 homes
28 Number of families MREA wants to help next
Project supporters key to program’s success
Manitoba Real Estate Association invented the program, found partners and paid for one-third of each family’s home deposit. It also managed the program and organized home ownership training courses each family was required to attend.
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs leaders sat on an advisory board to co-manage, identify and screen applicants.
Manitoba Housing and Renewal Corporation provided two-thirds of each family’s home deposit, and provided subsidized mortgage payments.
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation provided home-maintenance training sessions for the applicants.
SEED Winnipeg provided personal financial training for MTM families.
Assiniboine Credit Union provided mortgages for MTM families
Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors, Manitoba provided discounted home inspections.
A special thank you is being offered to Manitoba and Canadian Government leaders who found the funds to bring the program to life: current Manitoba Housing Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross, former Housing Minister Gord McIntosh; former Federal Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Monte Solberg, Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development; and MP Rod Bruinooge.
