The federal government is spending more than $5.6 million to build affordable housing in three Indigenous communities, including two west of Kamloops.

The money will pay for 10 new affordable housing units on the Leq’á:mel First Nation near Mission, five units on the Cook’s Ferry Indian Band near Spences Bridge, and five units on the Xaxli’p First Nation near Lillooet.

Parliamentary Secretary Adam Vaughn says these units will help address “longstanding” and “unacceptable” housing shortages for Indigenous people.

“Not just a measure to deal with the immediate impact of COVID, but to in fact the investment permanent, into new housing, as we move to end chronic homelessness in this country.”

Construction on all 20 of those units will be done this year.