Policy & Governance
Addressing the policies, regulations,
agreements, and decision-making processes established by government
institutions and First Nations communities.
What Policy & Governance Covers
A strong housing program needs more than policies on paper. It needs clear roles, fair processes, reliable financial practices and rules that make sense for the community.
Policy & Governance Toolkit
Open each topic below for practical guidance that housing managers, housing staff, committees and leadership can adapt to their own community.
Financial policies and procedures help housing programs manage budgets, reporting, accountability, purchasing controls, cash flow planning, bank reconciliations and financial record keeping.
The Housing Department should receive financial information promptly so budgets can be managed effectively.
- The Housing Manager or Director may provide financial reports to the Housing Board or Committee and/or Chief and Council on a quarterly basis.
- Minutes should be kept for Board or Committee meetings.
- A detailed annual budget should include revenues and planned expenditures.
- Housing units and renovations should be tracked and valued regularly.
Housing budgets may include repairs and maintenance, new construction, septic and water systems, salaries, insurance, administration, lot servicing, training and loan payments.
Revenues may include housing subsidies, rental and loan payments, government assistance, Band contributions, training funds and construction grants.
Regular reporting helps compare expected and actual spending so housing staff and leadership can make informed decisions.
Housing applications are submitted to the Nation, maintained as records and reviewed according to the Nation's housing process.
- Applications may be reviewed using a screening guide based on the Nation's housing policy.
- Personal interviews and rental references may be part of the process.
- Members may be required to update applications annually.
- Point-rating guides can support consistent and transparent assessment.
Families experiencing overcrowding may receive higher priority for housing allocation. After selection, applicants may complete an interview and review the rental agreement before signing. A clear agreement helps both the Nation and the tenant understand expectations from the beginning. Eg -
A written maintenance policy can define responsibilities for the Nation and residents, including repair requests, inspections, preventative maintenance, contractor arrangements, property care and procedures for tenant-caused damage.
Housing policies may address rent and payment schedules, home and property insurance, bequeathing, matrimonial rights, abandonment and temporary absence from a unit. These areas should be reviewed against each First Nation's own laws, policies and governance structures.
A written housing policy can provide clear and consistent guidance for housing decisions.
- Confirm leadership and community support.
- Identify realistic staffing and funding requirements.
- Set clear goals that reflect community values, laws and existing standards.
- Review other First Nation housing policies for examples.
- Engage community members and housing staff during policy development.
Policy and governance can be strengthened through training in housing strategy, policy, accountability, sustainable housing governance, funding models, leadership and supportive workplace practices.
Housing staff also benefit when leadership understands the operational pressures of managing housing and supports clear decision-making roles.
Questions to Ask
- Are housing decisions being made using clear written criteria?
- Do staff, leadership and tenants understand their responsibilities?
- Are budgets and housing priorities reviewed regularly?
- Are application and allocation decisions documented?
- Does the policy still reflect current community needs?
Keep it Community Driven
The strongest policy is one that is understood, realistic and shaped by the Nation's own priorities. Templates can help, but they should not replace community engagement or local laws.
Practical Resources
These supporting resources can eventually link to Housing Hub templates, examples and training pages as the site is completed.
A Note About These Resources
Many Housing Hub resources were gathered from publicly available sources and summarized for easier use. Each First Nation should confirm that any example, template or outside resource fits its own laws, policies, governance structures and current requirements before adopting it.