December 7, 2018—Hon. Hedy Fry, Vancouver Centre
“Madam Speaker, did you know that 34% of indigenous persons in Vancouver are homeless?
Many of them are youth.
For over a decade, the Lu’ma Native Housing Society in B.C. has provided a safe haven for homeless indigenous youth in the province. From its medical centre to its community lodge and its housing program for aboriginal youth, Lu’ma is a shining example of what a community can do when it is allowed to create its own culturally appropriate solutions.
Now the federal government is providing Lu’ma with funding through the national housing strategy. This will allow Lu’ma to make significant strides toward solving homelessness among urban indigenous youth. Lu’ma is a shining best-practice model for urban aboriginal programs in Canada.
I look forward to seeing more of its innovative work.”