Deadline is extended for submissions: April 7, 2023

Please refer to RFP addendum at the bottom of the page.

Statement of Work

Title

Unique challenges faced by Inuit women in urban centres regarding housing and homelessness.

Introduction

This project aims to identify challenges faced by urban Inuit women and gender-diverse individuals in urban centers (five southern Canadian cities – Edmonton, Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and Winnipeg, and one northern city, Yellowknife), including specific objectives described in detail below. The research project will culminate in a research report resulting from a mixed-method research approach, also outlined below.

The research question for the proposed study is the following:

How do urban Inuit women and gender-diverse individuals deal with unique challenges that they experience in southern Canadian urban centers[1] regarding housing (renting, transitional housing, and home ownership in particular) and homelessness?

This research project is being undertaken by Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada (Pauktuutit) with financial support from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

Goals of the Overarching Project

Pauktuutit has identified some of the primary challenges regarding housing issues and homelessness among Inuit women and gender-diverse individuals in urban areas which should be given a specific focus in this study. Therefore, the specific research objectives (the goals) for this study include, but are not limited to the following:

1. such as welfare assistance and family allowances (Boult, 2004; Harder & Wenzel, 2012). 
2. . According to Tungasuvvingat Inuit, “Indigenous 2SLGBTQ+ people are more likely to experience violence than heterosexual Indigenous peoples. We’re talking about the marginalized of the marginalized. Twice as many are likely to experience assault, including physical and sexual assault, than non-Indigenous LGBTQ+” (Wright, 2022, October 20). Many queer Inuit move away from their home communities and seek out more welcoming spaces, sometimes in bigger northern cities, but also often in larger southern urban centres like Toronto (Walley, 2018).
3. . Inuit life has unique attributes, including distinct language, culture and traditions that could impose challenges for the Inuit in the South, such as linguistic barriers and cross-cultural misperceptions (Moore, Tulk & Mitchell, 2005). Particularly, incarceration requires Inuit offenders to leave their communities to travel “down south” in order to face justice (Shalaby, 2015). For many Inuit offenders travelling “down south” to serve their sentence invokes intense feelings of fear and frustration and puts a great distance between them and their community and culture (Shalaby, 2015).
4. . Because of anti-Indigenous racism, apartment hunting in the tight rental market in urban areas like Toronto is ‘demoralizing and dehumanizing.’ For example, as an Indigenous person in Ontario said in an interview for CBC, some landlords would want assurance that the couple would not be drinking on the property upon discovering their Indigenous identity. They also said no smoking was allowed when the couple explained they would smudge and drum for the ceremony (Johnson, 2019, February 24).
5. . Indigenous women are most likely to go missing in urban areas and “are almost three times more likely to be killed by a stranger than non-Aboriginal women are” (NWAC, n.d.a, p. 5 as cited in Hansen & Dim, 2019). Also, human trafficking poses a significant threat to Inuit women and all other Indigenous females in Canada. Among many other factors that contribute to their vulnerability to being trafficked, colonialism is key (Bourgeois, 2015).
6. . Women need more culturally appropriate accommodation (Perreault, 2020). Culturally relevant housing models should accommodate large common spaces, windows that allow more daylight, larger sinks etc. (Semple, n.d.) Southern Canadian housing model is based on the concept of a nuclear family (two parents, two kids), which is culturally inappropriate for the Inuit (Knotsch & Kinnon, 2011). Shared spaces are too small for hunting preparation or collaborative domestic activities (Knotsch & Kinnon, 2011). The physical configuration of housing should facilitate Inuit ways of living and contribute to a sense of home (Baron, 2020).
7. . We request that the researchers identify additional insights that might emerge through the study.

Scope and Deliverables

Primary Deliverable

The desired outcome is a research report based upon a mixed-method research approach, which outlines major key points of the study, detailed descriptions of each key finding and future recommendations.

Work Plan and Mixed-Method Research Method

The project and research study should utilise a mixed-method research approach through a literature review and by conducting interviews.

Literature Review

The research consultant(s) will conduct a literature review to identify and gather information from existing literature to determine what existing academic or grey literature exists in relation to, responding to or providing insights toward the research objectives described in the section “Goals of the Overarching Project” above.

This literature review will guide the development of the interviews to be conducted in order to fill in informational gaps necessary in responding to the project objectives.

Developing a brief analytical framework that details the literature review approach (e.g. detailing the inclusion of grey and/or academic literature, listing relevant jurisdictions, outlining evaluation criteria etc.), conducting the literature review and drafting the resulting literature review texts will be the responsibility of the consulting research team. The consulting team will also include potential recommendations for further consideration in the literature review.

A draft literature review will be provided to Pauktuutit upon its completion. Pauktuutit will review the draft literature review, in collaboration with its funding partner, in order to provide additional insights, recommended edits or changes for the final version included in the final report.  

Interview Guide

Following the development of the literature review, the consulting research team will be tasked with the development of an interview guide. This interview guide will provide guidance and greater details on the following important aspects of the interviews to be conducted: 

• The total number of interviews to conduct. The number of interviews should not exceed 50 interviews given cost restraints.
• The interviews will be primarily with Inuit women. However, should also include interviews with Inuit service provider organisations.
• A list of the names of Inuit service provider organisations, which represent or provide services to urban Inuit women and gender diverse individuals (approximately 5-10).  
• The length of time required for each interview. 
• The expected target demographics or other related interviewee specifics. 
• The general structure of the interviews to be conducted. 
• Typical questions that the interviews aim to find answers to. 
• The structure and expected venue, such as through online, telephone or in-person interviews. The platform that will be used for conducting interviews and specific details on how, when or through what means—such as which platform for online interviews—should be determined at this stage. 
• The recommended honorarium to provide to interviewees. 
• Review ethical considerations and protocols.
• Prepare the form and contents of any consent forms required for interviewee participation, including translations into Inuktitut. 
• A description of how personal information shared with the consultants will be protected.  
• The form of engagement with participants (e.g. focus groups, one-on-one interviews).  
• The description of participants’ recruitment process. 

As indicated above, the consulting research team will also be tasked with determining the appropriate service providers and local organizations to conduct interviews within each urban area during the interview guide development. It is anticipated that the interview guide will consider and provide greater details on these interviews with organizations.

The consultant(s) will provide Pauktuutit a draft of the interview guide and consent form(s). Pauktuutit, in collaboration with its funding partner, will provide comments or recommended changes. Prior to finalizing the interview guide and consent form(s), the consultant(s) will modify and update the interview guide or consent form(s) based on these comments or recommended changes.

Interviews

The consulting research team will conduct a series of semi-structured key informant interviews with up to 50 urban Inuit women (both newcomers to urban centres and those who grew up in urban areas) who have experienced or have been experiencing housing issues and homelessness in the following cities: 

• Edmonton 
• Ottawa 
• Winnipeg 
• Yellowknife 
• Toronto 
• Montreal 

It is also crucial to consult local organizations across these cities to assess specific needs and to continue collaboration on the emerging priority of addressing the increased Inuit presence in urban centres.  Therefore, interviews will also be conducted with service providers (e.g. Tungasuvvingat Inuit).  The consulting research team will be tasked with determining the appropriate service providers and local organizations to conduct interviews within each urban area during the interview guide development. It is anticipated that the interview guide will consider and provide greater details on the interviews with organizations. 

The interviews with local Inuit women and gender-diverse individuals across these cities should aim. to enhance the ability to recognize and understand unique challenges and barriers related to housing issues and homelessness. Data and information obtained through these discussions may include direct narratives based on urban Inuit women’s perspectives and experiences.

Personally identifiable information or data collected will be obfuscated or removed from the data in any resulting outputs—such as the final report—to ensure that interviews remain confidential, and no person may be exposed to undue harm because of participation. Should personally identifiable information be collected during the course of research, the consulting firm will take all necessary precautions to protect this personal information.

The consulting team will provide Pauktuutit with regular updates on the progress of interviews during the interview and community engagement process.

Final Report

The research project will culminate in a final report of findings and recommendations produced by the consulting firm. The report will include the literature review and insights from the interviews with impacted Inuit women, gender diverse individuals and service providers. 

This final report should provide greater clarity, insights and understanding that responds to the research question outlined in the section “Goals of the Overarching Project” above. This report should also provide significantly greater understanding of the specific objectives outlined in the same section. 

This final report should aid Pauktuutit towards accomplishing its mission “to foster a greater awareness of the needs of Inuit women, and to encourage their participation in community, regional and national concerns in relation to social, cultural and economic development.” This final report should also be valuable for other organizations involved in similar missions, or delivering services for Inuit women in urban areas, including other stakeholders such as government agencies or departments. 

The consulting firm will invite Pauktuutit to review the draft report, which will be shared by Pauktuutit with its funding partner, for an opportunity to provide feedback or comments prior to the finalization of the report. Any feedback or comments should be incorporated into the final report prior to submission.

End Deliverables and Materials

To satisfy the requirements of this research project and the Request for Proposal, the consultant will deliver to Pauktuutit the following materials by March 29, 2024:

• Final Report and Related Materials
• PowerPoint Presentation Overview of Final Report
• Project and Final Report Executive Summary

Final Report and Related Materials

The consultant(s) will provide Pauktuutit a final report which is supplemented with visual aids as required, that responds to the research conducted and the specific research goals of the project. It will aim to inform the reader of the results of the research, including summarizing all research findings and document the overall project from design, implementation and completion.

The final report will include at a minimum, but not be limited to:

• An executive summary
• An introduction, which must include:
  • The research objectives of the project.
  • The goals of the research.
  • The research question.
  • The anticipated outcome and benefit of the research.
  • Reference to both the project proponent (Pauktuutit) and its funding partner (CMHC).
• Methodology of the research, including the literature review and interviews.
• The findings of the research, including outcomes from the literature review and interviews.
• The literature review with appropriate referencing to materials, including an assessment of the literature review on gaps in the existing body of research related to the objectives.
• An overview of the interviews and the interview processes, including references to the cities the interviews were conducted, why interviewees (such as demographics) were chosen, and the outcomes of the interviews.
• Narratives about the experiences of those interviewed and the stories heard through the interviews in order to illustrate the findings of the research goals. Emphasis should be provided to ensure that the audience of the report understand and feel these experiences.
• A detailed explanation and report on the findings from the interviews which responds to the research objectives and goals.
• Results and impact of the research, including the initial research goals and an honest assessment which addresses whether the project achieved its desired goals. It must also include how the resulting research may be relevant to service providers, the housing industry, the Government of Canada or other governments, Inuit organizations, the CMHC, and/or Pauktuutit.
• Lessons learned, including information of the research project’s major takeaways which also highlights any unexpected challenges faced or discovered.
• Recommendations for next steps related to the research question and the stated goals of the research. This should also include the anticipated outcome from the research outputs and the additional work needed, whereby opportunities or remaining barriers are identified.

The final report shall not include any references to personal information or any other sort of information that may lead to the identification of participants. The consultant(s) and report authors will take all necessary precautions required to ensure the safety and confidentiality of participants in the interviews. However, references to the challenges faced by or insights gleaned from specific organizations may include the organization’s name as long as personal information or information which may identify a specific individual is obfuscated; the consultant(s) will seek permission from this organization prior to including the organisations name within the report.

Along with the submission of the final report, any support materials used—such as interview notes, consent forms, participant lists, or important communications with organizations—should be included as an addendum to Pauktuutit for record keeping and monitoring.

PowerPoint Presentation Overview of Final Report

Along with the final report, and in preparation for a final presentation to Pauktuutit and its funding partner about the results of the research project, the consulting team will prepare a PowerPoint presentation that summarizes and outlines the results of the research project and the final report.

This presentation document must be submitted in a PowerPoint format and include at a minimum, but not be limited to:

• The research objectives of the project.
• The goals of the research.
• The research question.
• The anticipated outcome and benefit of the research.
• Reference to both the project proponent (Pauktuutit) and its funding partner (CMHC).
• An overview of the interviews and interview process.
• The results of the research.
• The expected impact of the research.
• The lessons learned, next steps and opportunities.

Project and Final Report Executive Summary

This executive summary will be a one-to-two-page summary derived from the final report. The summary shall include the following:

Title

The title of the research project.

Introduction

50 to 100 words that describe the research question and objectives.

Project Overview

100 words that describes the following:

• Participants of the project, the project proponent and project funder.
• Overview of the goals and objectives of the research project including how the research was conducted.

Relation to CMHC Objectives

50 words on how the research supports any objectives of Canada’s National Housing Strategy.

Key Findings/Results

100 to 150 words (more if required) that highlights the major findings of the research project in bullet format.

Fast Facts

50 to 100 words that provide “fast facts” that resulted from the research project, it is recommended that:

• They are easy to read and understandable text that summarizes a few details of findings succinctly.
• Can include, as required, information from “Key Findings/Results” and may include visual aids.

Expected Outcomes

100 to 200 words that provides an insight and analysis of the results of the research and how this might be relevant to service providers, the housing industry, the Government of Canada or other governments, Inuit organizations, the CMHC, and Pauktuutit.

Project Team

A list of the lead organization (Pauktuutit), the funding partner (CMHC), and the consulting team/firm.

Table of Deliverables and Timeline

Deliverable	Output	Timeline
Submission of Proposal	Proposal by the consultant(s) submitted to Pauktuutit.	April 7, 2023
Project Start Date	Start of contract.	April 17, 2023
Draft Literature Review	Consultant(s) will provide Pauktuutit the draft literature review.	June 31, 2023
Draft Interview Guide	Consultant(s) will provide Pauktuutit the draft interview guide for review.	July 14, 2023
Draft Consent Form(s)	Consultant(s) will provide Pauktuutit the draft consent form(s) for review.	July 14, 2023
Final Interview Guide	Consultant(s) will incorporate edits and recommendations, then provide Pauktuutit with the final interview guide.	July 28, 2023
Final Consent Form(s)	Consultant(s) will incorporate edits and recommendations, then provide Pauktuutit with the final consent form(s).	July 28, 2023
Regular Updates on Interviews and Community Engagement	Consultant(s) will provide Pauktuutit with regular updates, frequency to be recommended by consultant(s), on the progress of community engagement.	August 1, 2023 to December 30, 2023
Interviews and Community Engagement Completed	Consultant(s) will have completed interviews and community engagement by this date.	December 30, 2023
Draft Report	Consultant(s) will provide Pauktuutit a draft report of findings and recommendations.	February 29, 2024
Final Report and Supporting Materials	Consultant(s) will provide Pauktuutit the final report and the supporting materials.	March 15, 2024
PowerPoint Presentation and Executive Summary	Consultant(s) will provide Pauktuutit the PowerPoint presentation and executive summary.	March 15, 2024
Presentation and Story Telling	Consultant(s) will provide a presentation to Pauktuutit and its funding partner about the lived experiences the consultant(s) have heard and the results of the research project.	To be scheduled within one month of the submission and acceptance of the final report and materials.

Pauktuutit’s Roles and Responsibilities

The primary contact at Pauktuutit for this project is Christopher Fraser, Senior Policy and Research Analyst (cfraser@pauktuutit.ca). Pauktuutit commits to providing the information and materials necessary to complete the work and will respond to requests for information promptly.

Pauktuutit will provide all applicants with a final decision within five business days following the submission deadline.

Confidentiality, Privacy and Copyright

The successful applicant shall not disclose to any party any confidential information gained or resulting from activities undertaken under this project, nor shall the applicant disclose any information concerning Pauktuutit or their affairs while working on this project.

Pauktuutit and the successful applicant will agree to acknowledge and accord appropriate credit for each other’s contribution to this project, including any products developed and disseminated as a result. Both parties will agree on how credit is attributed, depending on the nature and degree of each organization’s contribution.

Pauktuutit retains ownership of all materials and intellectual property created, designed, or produced because of activities undertaken by the successful applicant when awarded this project.

The successful applicant will generate original work for this project.

Proposal Instructions

• Applicants must submit their company name, and confirm their incorporation, references, and/or portfolio.
• The proposal must include, but does not have to be limited to:
  • An overview of how the research project will be accomplished, including a brief workplan.
  • A description of the unique capabilities, cultural sensitivities, professional experiences, or other such characteristics of the consulting team which will support the completion of the research project.
  • A description of how the consultant(s) or the consulting team is (are) culturally aware and culturally sensitive towards the challenges faced by Inuit women.
  • A description on how the consultant(s) or the consulting team will handle the difficulty of the research subject.
  • References to prior experience(s), related work, or prior project(s) the consultant(s) or the consulting team have with working with Inuit women.

• All submissions must be in Word or PDF format.
• Submit by email to: cfraser@pauktuutit.ca & smufumisi@pauktuutit.ca
• In order to be considered, all submissions must be received by 17:00 PM EST on April 7, 2023.
• Estimates/budgets must remain firm until March 31, 2024.

No payment will be made for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of a proposal in response to this RFP. No costs incurred before receipt of a signed contract can be charged to the proposed contract.

Pauktuutit reserves the right not to award a contract because of this RFP.

Budget

The proposal must include:

• A detailed budget and a proposed outline that demonstrates how the objectives and deliverables for the project can be met;
• Indicate the billing rate and role of consultant(s);
• List any other expenses that might be applicable;

• Travel that may be required shall be included in the scope of work budget and will be paid for by the consultant; and,
• The total bid must include 13% HST tax.

Honorariums paid to interviewees are not to be included the scope of work budget. However, these honorariums and the necessary budgeting will be included in the interview guide. The honorariums will be paid for by Pauktuutit.

Rights of the Organization

Pauktuutit reserves the right to:

• Enter negotiations with one or more bidders on any or all aspects of this proposal;
• Provide preference towards consulting teams that include Inuit women within the work;
• Accept any proposal in whole or in part;
• Cancel and/or re-issue this requirement at any time;
• Award one or more contracts; and
• Verify any or all information provided by the bidder regarding this requirement.

Contact Information

Please direct the submission to:

Christopher Fraser

Senior Policy and Research Analyst
Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada
520 – 1 Nicholas St., Ottawa ON K1N 7B7
cfraser@pauktuutit.ca

Appendix – Cited Literature

Boult, D. A. (2004). Hunger in the Arctic: Food (In) Security in Inuit Communities A Discussion Paper. 

Bourgeois, R. (2015). Colonial exploitation: The Canadian state and the trafficking of Indigenous women and girls in Canada. UCLA L. Rev., 62, 1426. 

Hansen, J. G., & Dim, E. E. (2019). Canada’s missing and murdered indigenous people and the imperative for a more inclusive perspective. International Indigenous Policy Journal, 10(1). 

Harder, M. T., & Wenzel, G. W. (2012). Inuit subsistence, social economy and food security in Clyde River, Nunavut. Arctic, 305-318. 

Johnson R. (2019, February 24). Navigating the Toronto housing crisis as an Indigenous person. CBC.ca. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/urban-housing-rental-market-toronto-1.5029653. 

Knotsch, C., & Kinnon, D. (2011). If not now when? Addressing the ongoing Inuit housing crisis in Canada. 

Moore, S., Tulk, W., & Mitchell, R. (2005). Qallunaat Crossing: The Southern-Northern Divide and Promising Practices for Canada’s Inuit Young People. First Peoples Child & Family Review: A Journal on Innovation and Best Practices in Aboriginal Child Welfare Administration, Research, Policy & Practice, 2(1), 117-129. 

Morris, M. (2016). A statistical portrait of Inuit with a focus on increasing urbanization: Implications for policy and further research. Aboriginal policy studies, 5(2). 

Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada. (2022). Gender-Based Analysis of Inuit Women-Owned Business. Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada. Retrieved from https://pauktuutit.ca/social-and-economic-development/gender-based-analysis-of-inuit-women-owned-business/ 

Perreault, K., Riva, M., Dufresne, P., & Fletcher, C. (2020). Overcrowding and sense of home in the Canadian Arctic. Housing studies, 35(2), 353-375. 

Perreault, K., Riva, M., Dufresne, P., & Fletcher, C. (2020). Overcrowding and sense of home in the Canadian Arctic. Housing studies, 35(2), 353-375. 

Quintal-Marineau, M. (2020). Living in the South, Caring in the North: Exploring Inuit Women’s Care Responsibilities. The International Indigenous Policy Journal, 11(4), 1-19. 

Wilson, K. (2018). Pulling Together: Foundations Guide. Victoria, BC: BCcampus. Retrieved from https://opentextbc.ca/indigenizationfoundations/

Wright T. (2022, October 20). Nunavut News. Tungasuvvingat Inuit to open drop-in centre for LGBT Inuit in Ottawa next month. Retrieved from https://www.nunavutnews.com/news/tungasuvvingat-inuit-to-open-drop-in-centre-for-lgbt-inuit-in-ottawa-next-month/ 

Addendum – March 15, 2023

Changes to the RFP

Submission Deadline

• The submission deadline was extended to 17:00 EST on April 7, 2023.
• Project start date was moved to April 17, 2023.

Questions & Answers

Question 1	For the suggested honoraria for participants, would you like that budget included in our proposal or would that be handled separately?
Answer 1	Honoraria are included within Pauktuutit’s budget. Though, it will be requested that the consulting firm recommends an honorarium amount when developing the interview guide.Please, do not include the honoraria in the proposal budget as this will be paid by Pauktuutit.
Question 2	Also do you anticipate that these would mostly happen virtually?
Answer 2	Given the cost of travel to some of these locations, it is anticipated that a mix of virtual and in-person would occur. Due to the very sensitive topic of housing and the likelihood of homelessness and trauma being intertwined, the consulting firm will be encouraged to consider how to conduct interviews in such a way as to be supportive of the interviewees. It is recommended to consider a collaboration with service providers—who likely have strong relationships built with many of their clients—to determine how to best conduct these interviews.
Question 3	If travel is anticipated, will those disbursements be handled directly by Pauktuutit?
Answer 3	Please refer to Page 12 of the RFP: “Travel that may be required shall be included in the scope of work budget and will be paid for by the consultant”Therefore, it is recommended that a travel budget be included in the proposal budget.
Question 4	For the individual interviews, how will the women be selected? Will they be identified by Pauktuutit, identified by supporting organizations, or will the successful proponent need to recruit folks?
Answer 4	The successful proponent will have the task of recruiting interviewees. However, with appropriate notice, Pauktuutit’s communications team may be available to support with posts on Pauktuutit’s social media pages.It will be recommended that the successful proponent work with service organizations to communicate with their clients about the opportunity for the interview and to support the recruitment process.It is expected that the interview guide—prepared by the successful proponent—will include the recruitment plan and related considerations.
Question 5	On page 10, the proposal instructions include mention of “a description of how the consultant(s) or the consulting team will handle the difficulty of the research subject.” We were wondering if that point is referring to the emotional difficulty of the subject for our team as the researchers, the emotional difficulty of the subject for the women we are interviewing, or the logistical difficulty of getting in touch with women experiencing diverse housing situations? Or all of the above?
Answer 5	All of the above, but not limited to the above.The primary focus of this instruction, however, is primarily to consider the difficulty of the subject for the interviewees related to trauma, emotional challenges, and more. Proponents are encouraged to inform Pauktuutit, in their proposal, about their sensitivity to this challenge and their relevant experience.Nonetheless, the subject is a difficult subject for all stakeholders in this process. Proponents should be aware that they may hear stories, circumstances, or histories that are difficult for themselves to record.
Question 6	We would like to confirm that the expectation is up to 50 individual interviews, plus an additional 5-10 interviews with community-serving organizations. Is that correct?
Answer 6	This is correct; 50 individual interviews, plus an additional 5-10 interviews with community-serving organizations.

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