Matawa building rental homes in Thunder Bay

Matawa First Nations plans to triple the amount of rental homes it has available for off-reserve members in Thunder Bay.
Thanks to $3.37 million in funding from Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services, Matawa will construct 24 rental units in various locations across the city. Twelve are currently under construction while the others will begin in the spring. Matawa currently has four two-bedroom units and eight three-bedroom units it rents. The geared to income housing waiting list in Thunder Bay exceeds 1,000 families.
“Affordable, available and appropriate housing is difficult to find right across the country,” said Matawa First Nations Non-Profit Housing president Wayne Moonias. “These new units will provide essential housing support for many low-income families who need a supportive environment to live in.
“Every family which moves to the city has a different reason for doing so. For some it is medicals, others for education. There is a critical need for these homes.”
Rather than sign a sheet of paper to signify the deal, the stakeholders signed a piece of lumber.
“This isn’t just an ordinary two-by-four…with all of these signatures, it symbolizes what can be achieved when we work together,” said Matawa First Nations CEO David Paul Achneepineskum. “It also signifies our mutual commitment to building strong foundations for families and children.”
The wood will be included in one of the homes.