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Episode 104 | Barriers to Adequate Housing and How Indigenous Housing Organizations are Filling the Gaps

Indigenous Peoples – May 2025

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Episode 104 | Barriers to Adequate Housing and How Indigenous Housing Organizations are Filling the Gaps
Broadcast Date: May 8, 2025

 

SUMMARY

Due to the cumulative effects of settler colonialism and the ongoing dispossession of Indigenous lands, Indigenous peoples in Canada experience significantly higher rates of housing insecurity than the general population. Existing mental health and substance use issues further exacerbate this issue, creating a cycle of insecurity.

Host Sarah Rowe is joined by Margaret Pfoh, CEO of Aboriginal Housing Management Association, and Justin Marchand, CEO of Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services, to discuss how intergenerational trauma, historical injustice, and systemic discrimination contribute to the unique barriers that Indigenous peoples face when seeking adequate housing and explain the need for culture-based housing policy.

 

Guests

  • Justin Marchand, Chief Executive Officer, Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services (OAHS)
  • Margaret Pfoh, Chief Executive Officer, Aboriginal Housing Management Association (AHMA)                                          

Host

  • Sarah Rowe, Articling Clerk, Legal Aid Newfoundland and Labrador

 

BIOGRAPHIES

 

Justin Marchand, Chief Executive Officer, Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services (OAHS)

Justin is Métis and was appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services (OAHS) in 2018 after being with OAHS since 2009.

Justin has over 25 years of experience in a broad range of sectors and holds numerous designations including as a Chartered Professional Accountant (or CPA) and a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Housing.

Past Treasurer for Housing Partnership Canada, he is a member of the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association (CHRA)’s Indigenous Caucus Working Group, as well as a founding and past Board member of National Indigenous Collaborative Housing Incorporated (NICHI).

Justin believes that housing is a fundamental human right and that when Indigenous people have access to safe, affordable, and culture-based housing this provides the opportunity to improve other areas of their life.

 

Margaret Pfoh, Chief Executive Officer, Aboriginal Housing Management Association (AHMA)

Margaret Pfoh, a proud member of the Tsimshian Nation from the Ginaxgiik tribe (people of the Hemlock), carries the Blackfish crest, symbolizing the powerful killer whale. Margaret has dedicated over 30 years to advocating for Indigenous rights and advancing housing solutions for Indigenous Peoples across Canada. She is CEO of the Aboriginal Housing Management Association (AHMA) and current Board President of the Canadian Housing Renewal Association (CHRA).

Under her visionary leadership, AHMA has not only solidified its role as a key player in Indigenous housing but also launched innovative, first-of-its-kind initiatives like the URN Strategy, Complex Care Housing, and Rental Protection Fund. These groundbreaking programs have been instrumental in addressing the evolving housing needs of Indigenous communities, paving the way for sustainable, community-driven solutions.

Margaret’s strategic acumen was integral to the 2019 establishment of the Building BC: Indigenous Housing Fund, a historic partnership between AHMA and the government of British Columbia. This fund extended provincial support to Indigenous Peoples across on-reserve, urban, rural, and northern regions, setting a new standard for Canada.
In 2022, Margaret co-founded the National Indigenous Collaborative Housing Inc. (NICHI), further amplifying Indigenous voices in housing policy and ensuring Indigenous leadership is central to shaping national housing strategies.

A dynamic leader on national and international stages, Margaret’s influence reaches far beyond AHMA. Her engagements with the United Nations and her leadership roles within the CHRA underscore her commitment to Indigenous housing rights. She continues to champion justice for Indigenous Peoples globally, using her voice to highlight housing as an inherent human right.
Margaret’s enduring legacy is built not only on her past achievements but also on her forward-looking approach. She ensured that AHMA’s strategic plan aligned with national and international advancements in Indigenous housing. Her work continues to shape policy, partnerships, and the future of Indigenous housing on a global scale.

 

Sarah Rowe, Articling Clerk, Legal Aid Newfoundland and Labrador

Sarah Rowe is a recent graduate of University of Ottawa’s Common Law program and holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and French from Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador. She is currently articling will be called to the Newfoundland and Labrador bar in June 2025. Sarah has legal experience in criminal law, family law, and immigration and refugee law. She is interested in social and justice issues related prisoner justice, drug policy, health, Indigenous peoples, the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and immigrants. Sarah worked at CIAJ during law school and is now volunteering with the organization.

 

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