Deanna has lived in her home in Kahnawà:ke, a Mohawk community near Montreal, her entire life. Built generations ago, it’s been passed down through her family — from grandparents to parents, and now to her.

“It’s an heirloom,” she reflects. “It’s like a gift.”

Across Canada, many Indigenous families are working to hold on to homes like Deanna’s, homes that carry irreplaceable connections to culture, history and identity. But safe housing isn’t always guaranteed.

Today, Indigenous people are nearly three times more likely to live in homes needing major repairs than non-Indigenous Canadians,* a gap shaped by decades of underfunding and systemic barriers.

Last summer, Deanna’s home was put at risk.

A large tree fell onto her roof, leaving significant damage behind. Shingles lifted, the structure weakened, and with winter approaching, the house might not have held up. The cost of repairs, more than $8,000, was simply out of reach.

Through the Indigenous Housing Partnership, a program rooted in the knowledge of Indigenous communities who invite us to collaborate on local housing needs, Habitat for Humanity Québec partnered with PlanIt Consulting & Communications, a Mohawk women-led community business piloting Volunteer Kahnawà:ke, and the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke to help prioritize and complete critical repairs in this First Nations community.

Deanna’s home was repaired before winter arrived, with the damaged roof replaced, the structure reinforced, and a nearby tree that posed future risk safely removed.

The work was grounded in community collaboration. Students from the First Nations Regional Adult Education Centre’s carpentry program volunteered on the repair, gaining real-world skills while giving back to their community.

“I’d like to give a big thank you to the people involved in making my home nice and safe,” Deanna shares.

Deanna’s story is one example of what's possible when a community leads, and Habitat shows up as a respectful partner. Housing Portfolio Lead Ratsénhaienhs Ryan Montour of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke notes,

"Access to essential home repairs remains a critical need for many families in Kahnawà:ke and across the province. This program ensures that those needs are met with respect and compassion. The support provided, thanks to partners like Habitat for Humanity, brings us a step closer to keeping families in a safe and healthy home."

By working alongside communities and supporting local priorities, Habitat is helping preserve not just houses — but the stories and connections they hold.

*Statistics Canada