VICTORIA -- It looks tiny, but the low-cost, energy-efficient house can snugly fit a family of four, and a B.C. company hopes it's a partial answer to the housing crisis on First Nations reserves in Canada.

Brent Pollard, sales director for EcoSIP Industries Inc., says his company has put together two designs at the request of the Carrier Chilcotin First Nation, near Williams Lake, B.C.

The community is initially looking for six houses.

The company, based in Duncan, B.C., on Vancouver Island, is also talking to other bands.

"It could work anywhere. It can be shipped to any location," said Pollard.

The cost of the 500-square-foot house is $55,000.

Heating costs are low in the homes, which are built of structural insulated panels -- a sandwich of oriented strand board, plywood or concrete-board skins filled with foam.

It has one bedroom, a loft sleeping area, kitchen, living room and bathroom and the design can be expanded up to about 2,000 square feet.

Pollard said the company does the structural work in the factory, then flat-packs it with kitchen and bathroom materials to the site, where it can be ready for occupancy in six weeks.

"It's a very durable, super-energy-efficient building," Pollard said. "Now we're looking at whether we can produce it on a larger scale and drive the cost-per-unit down."

The homes also have a fire-retardant coating, and another coating that eliminates mould growth.

Aboriginal leaders, band members, public health officials and housing experts say the housing situation on First Nation communities across Canada has become a full-blown crisis that is leaving a widening stain on this country's international reputation.

The United Nations Human Rights Council urged Canada earlier this month to improve its treatment of aboriginal people, citing housing among the pressing concerns.

The story broke the same day as news that a nine-year-old girl had died when fire destroyed a dilapidated house occupied by 15 people on Manitoba's Sandy Bay Reserve.

By Judith Lavoie (The Regina Leader)