Urban Programming for Indigenous Peoples

Funding streams

UPIP has 6 funding streams:

• organizational capacity
• programs and services
• housing
• coalitions
• research and innovation
• infrastructure

Organizational capacity

This stream offers core funding to Indigenous organizations that deliver programs or services to urban Indigenous peoples. Core funding covers the day-to-day operating costs of an organization, for example, staffing of key positions, utilities, rent.

Programs and services

Projects that focus on these 6 key areas will be considered for funding:

1. women, such as projects to help women transition out of shelters
2. vulnerable populations, such as projects for persons with addictions, disabilities, seniors
3. youth, such as projects that provide land-based activities, mentoring
4. transition services, such as navigator services
5. outreach programs, such as cultural awareness training for non-Indigenous organizations
6. community wellness, such as housing plans or studies, anti-racism, pre-employment supports

Housing

This stream provides funding for Indigenous housing projects, including purchases, new construction, repairs, and renovations for urban, rural and northern Indigenous housing and service delivery organizations.

This funding initiative is part of the Government of Canada's commitment to address the social determinants of health and advance self-determination in alignment with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People and Articles 21 and 23. See Funding for urgent, unmet Indigenous housing projects in urban, rural and northern areas to be distributed through the National Indigenous Collaborative Housing Incorporated for more information.

Coalitions

This stream supports local coalitions that bring together all levels of government and other stakeholders.

Under this stream, UPIP will connect organizations and all levels of government to:

• identify key local priorities and needs
• ensure efficient and coordinated delivery of urban Indigenous programs

The coalitions will:

• promote local collaboration
• identify local needs
• develop local plans on how best to address the priorities

Research and innovation

This stream provides funding to academics, researchers and organizations in order to:

• better understand the urban Indigenous reality
• gather information on best practices, methodologies and programming approaches
• pilot innovative programs and services to address systemic challenges in new ways

Infrastructure

This stream provides funding for infrastructure projects that increase the physical capacity and improve the safety, security, and accessibility of urban and rural Indigenous service delivery organization's facilities to deliver new programming or to respond to increased demand for existing programs.

Funding distribution

Starting April 1, 2026, the National Association of Friendship Centres and Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres will distribute funding from the program to their member organizations.

• National Association of Friendship Centres if you are outside Ontario
• Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres if you are in Ontario

These are the 2 largest, furthest-reaching organizations, constituting the only pan‑Canadian Indigenous networks that provide direct and on-the-ground program and services directly to all Indigenous people living in or transitioning to urban centres.