‘More than just about homes’: Federal government invests $4 million into Millbrook First Nation housing project

MILLBROOK, N.S. — The federal government has invested $4 million into Millbrook First Nation to help them build 34 homes in the community as part of the third phase of the Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI).

Darren Fisher, the MP for Dartmouth-Cole Harbour and secretary to the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, gave the announcement on Thursday morning, Jan. 18, on behalf of Sean Fraser, the federal minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities.

“We all aim to ensure that all communities, including Millbrook and First Nation, have a good supply of safe and affordable homes. That families not only have a safe place to rest their heads at night but also a place to call home. A place not to just live but to thrive,” Fisher said following a drumming demonstration.

In a conversation following the announcement, Fisher said that 15,000 homes are being built across the country during this phase of the RHI. Since the RHI began in the 2020-21 fiscal year, over $4 billion has been invested in housing across Canada.

“This important investment will improve the quality of life for families in core housing need, and it’ll create good jobs along the way,” he added.

Creating a sustainable community

Millbrook’s Chief, Bob Gloade, spoke after Fisher. For Gloade, this announcement is about more than just building homes; it’s about helping Millbrook grow and thrive sustainably.

“This announcement is more about more than just about building homes; it’s about creating a sustainable housing base in our community,” Gloade said during the announcement.

He took the time to thank the housing team in Millbrook First Nation for all their hard work and success in organizing the new developments in Millbrook, as well as Kent Building Supplies and the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation for their support.

“It’s not about individuals. It’s about teamwork. I’m just here to acknowledge and thank all the team members that have played an integral part in that development throughout the years and continue to do so well,” he said.

Gloade added that Millbrook has a large and growing youth demographic in the community, a trend he said Indigenous communities across Atlantic Canada are experiencing. The investment into housing for the community is a step in closing the gap of the housing crisis in Millbrook.

“I want to emphasize that the housing crisis within Canada and our province is an important part. So, this is a small step in helping close those gaps and provide those accommodations for individuals so that they can go on and succeed and be and be able to grow their families within and in their communities,” he said.

“Economic growth,” he continued, “Goes hand in hand with the availability of housing and helps not just the community but the entire region, particularly in that these projects will help create jobs within the community.”

Project Timeline

One of the big things the new housing developments along Glooscap Road are going to help by granting increased independence to community members.

“Most of us have aging demographics, and it’s important that these individuals can now have their own homes instead of multi-generational situations,” said Gloade in a conversation with SaltWire following the announcement. “It doesn’t only focus on family; this initiative also focuses on single individuals, single parents, and elders and provides a vast array of different types of units. That’s the good thing about these initiatives. It helps us provide the needs where they’re needed.”

The work on the homes began in October, Gloade said, and so far, a third of the 34 homes are under construction. The homes will become available consecutively as they’re finished.

He added that the project is expected to take up to three years to complete.

“When you go around our community, that’s the workmanship in our community that we’re very proud of. And we will continue to be proud of as we go forward because there’s a lot of pride in home ownership within the community.”