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First proposed more than a decade ago, an affordable housing project in downtown Regina is set to become a reality.
The federal government has announced it is providing more than $14.9 million toward the construction of Namerind Place along Lorne Street and 11th Avenue.
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Namerind Housing Corporation President and CEO Robert Byers called it exciting to be part of changing the face of downtown.
“This is a big day,” he said in Regina on Saturday. “To have 48 families living in the downtown and be given an opportunity to grow and have a future.”
The 100-per-cent Indigenous-owned company first announced the project in 2015 and when it is finished Namerind Place will provide housing for as many as 168 Indigenous women and their children in 48 affordable units.
Federal Housing Minister Gregor Robinson said Namerind Place secured funding through Build Canada Homes and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) Affordable Housing Fund.
“The work to prevent and reduce homelessness is really helping the whole city, the whole community, and communities across the country,” Robinson said.
This week, the federal government announced in its budget a plan to end homelessness across the country within 10 years.
Byers said the impact of the project will be far-reaching, adding that when Indigenous organizations are empowered to lead and plan, the result is better housing outcomes and stronger communities.
“Safe and affordable housing creates stability and opens doors to opportunity,” he explained. “This is about creating lasting change for generations to come.”
A design concept of Namerind Place at the site of the affordable housing project in Regina, Sask., on Nov. 7, 2026. (Geoff Smith/980 CJME)
The announcement also included a $3-million investment from National Indigenous Collaborative Housing Inc.
MP for Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River and Secretary of State for Rural Development, Buckley Belanger, said Indigenous families deserve the same opportunities, security and peace of mind as everyone else.
“Namerind Place will also offer support services to help residents build the stability they need to do one thing, and that is to succeed.”
Belanger highlighted recent projects in Saskatchewan, including new homes for vulnerable families in Prince Albert and a permanent emergency shelter in Regina.
Byers added that Namerind Place shows what is possible when governments invest in Indigenous-led solutions.
“That’s reconciliation,” he said. “Working together on something that will make a real difference in people’s lives.”
Byers said Namerind Place should be filled with families by the end of December 2027.
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