renewals. One of the first major portfolios Atoine worked with was in Fort St. John, a northern region where housing challenges are significant and Indigenous homelessness rates are disproportionately high. “Up to 80 per cent of people experiencing homelessness in northern BC are Indigenous,” David explains. “So every unit that can be preserved or revitalised has enormous impact. The North is historically underserved, and AHMA’s involvement there is critical.” For Atoine, working with the Fort St. John housing society meant completing building condition assessments for 27 homes, identifying renewal needs, creating capital plans, securing funding, and overseeing the multi-stage renovation and renewal process. The society had only one fulltime staff member managing the entire housing portfolio. AHMA’s support provided not just technical expertise but capacity, structure, and a sustained partnership. “It’s really rewarding to support societies like that,” Atoine says. “You see the gratitude, and you see what a difference it makes.” That difference, he adds, is rooted in an Indigenous-led approach – something AHMA protects fiercely. “Our motto is: For Indigenous, By Indigenous,” Atoine says. “Many of the tenants AHMA members serve are First Nations members living in municipalities and not on reserve. Indigenous people include First Nations, Métis and Inuit as well as non-status and displaced or dispossessed Indigenous people. We aim to work THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
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