Residential and Community Housing Solutions

Safe, reliable, and adequate housing is at the heart of community well-being.

Thom Brokerage & Consulting works alongside First Nations across Canada to source residential and community housing solutions that reflect each Nation’s priorities, climate, and location.

Whether your community is looking at prefabricated modular builds, traditional on-site construction, or a mix of both, we focus on practical options that address overcrowding, aging housing stock, and long waitlists — not just for today, but for the long term.

Housing Designed for First Nations Realities

Housing decisions in First Nations communities are never “one-size-fits-all.”

We work with leadership, housing and capital departments to understand:

• Community-identified housing priorities
• Family sizes and multi-generational living
• Local climate and winter conditions
• Access constraints (ice roads, barge, fly-in, or all-season road)
• Existing infrastructure and available local trades
  

From there, we match your housing goals with appropriate options and partners, so every unit we source is practical to deliver, install, and maintain in your specific context.

Prefabricated Modular Builds

Prefabricated modular builds are often the most efficient path to adding new homes in tight construction windows — especially for northern, winter road, and remote communities.

Modular builds can support:

• Single-family homes and duplexes
• Multi-unit and multiplex housing
• Transitional and emergency family homes
• Staff housing and program-linked units
  

Key advantages:

• Shorter on-site build time – Most of the work happens in a controlled facility, with units shipped in and installed on prepared foundations.
• Predictable quality and finishes – Consistent construction standards, inspected before delivery.
• Better fit for winter road timelines – Homes can be built ahead of time and moved in when roads open.
• Scalable – Add units over time as funding and capacity grow.
  

We work with multiple manufacturers and partners so we can recommend modular options that fit your budget, climate, and delivery logistics — without locking your community into a single brand or model.

Traditional On-Site Construction

For some communities, traditional construction remains the best approach — especially where there is local trade capacity or a desire to create work and training opportunities.

Traditional builds may be the right fit when you want to:

• Customize layouts for multi-generational or culturally specific living
• Integrate community-identified design elements
• Build in phases as funding is approved
• Leverage local labour, apprenticeships, or community-owned construction entities
  

We coordinate with community leadership and construction partners to ensure each project is aligned with your long-term housing strategy and existing assets on the ground.

Transition, Emergency & Special-Purpose Housing

Many communities now prioritize housing that supports safety, healing, and stability in addition to standard family homes.

We support projects such as:

• Transitional homes and emergency placements
• Safe housing for women, children, and families
• Housing linked to prevention, wellness, and community programs
• Supportive staff or service-linked housing
  

These projects often have different funding pathways and requirements than typical residential units. Our role is to make sure the housing solutions you pursue are realistic to deliver and can be supported over the long term.

Consulting & Funding Navigation for Housing Projects

Housing projects intersect with funding programs, policy commitments, and detailed application requirements. We don’t simply “sell units” — we stay engaged through the strategy and planning.

Our support can include:

• Early-stage housing discussions with leadership and administration
• High-level options analysis: modular vs. traditional, phasing, and logistics
• Coordination with manufacturers, builders, and technical partners
• Documentation support for funding proposals and capital planning
• Sourcing related equipment and infrastructure where needed
  

We bring our knowledge of Indigenous housing and capital programs to the table, while respecting that every Nation’s governance, priorities, and decision-making process is unique.