REGINA, Sask. – The Government of Canada has announced funding that will allow the Namerind Place project to go ahead.
The project, located on the lot at 1840 Lorne Street in downtown Regina, is spearheaded by Namerind Housing Corporation.
It will bring 48 new rental units to downtown, including 20 affordable units, and will provide housing for Indigenous women and their children. It will include one, two and three-bedroom units, with the capacity to house up to 168 residents.
According to a federal government news release, there will also be tenant support services offered, and supports will include budgeting and financial literacy workshops, assistance accessing benefits and community resources, and periodic tenancy check-ins to ensure residents have the support they need. The government states the project will also make extensive use of modern methods of construction, which they said will advance Build Canada Homes' mandate of accelerating housing delivery through innovative, more efficient construction approaches.
The announcement that the project is officially a go was made Saturday afternoon by Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Gregor Robertson, joined by Secretary of State Buckley Belanger and Regina Mayor Chad Bachynski.
At that announcement, Robertson confirmed funding for the project. The government states the project is receiving over $14.9 million in funding through both Build Canada Homes and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Affordable Housing Fund.
“Today, through this announcement, $14.9 million from the federal government, that investment is about supporting Namerind to build 48 rental homes, giving families in this community a safe and stable place to call home, and we have to build that future where everyone has the dignity, security and opportunity that comes with having a place to call their own.”
Belanger said housing is “one of the biggest challenges facing Canadians today.” He said their government is “making housing and infrastructure a priority in Budget 2026.”
“What makes this project especially important to me is who it's going to help. These homes will provide safe, affordable housing for Indigenous women and their children. Families who deserve the same opportunities, the same security, and the same 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.”
Bachynski called this project an “investment in people, in families and in a stronger Regina.” He noted the city of Regina is a partner in the project, contributing $2 million through the Housing Incentives Program to make it a reality.
He thanked Namerind Housing and its CEO Robert Byers, saying that for decades Namerind has “been a trusted leader in our community, helping individuals and families access safe, quality housing while creating pathways to long-term success.”
”Their work goes far beyond providing homes. They help strengthen lives, support families, and create opportunities for people to achieve stability and independence. This project reflects that commitment.”
The project also received $3 million in funding from National Indigenous Collaborative Housing Inc. (NICHI). In a statement their CEO John Gordon said:
"NICHI's $3 million investment was the final piece that helped bring everything together. It enabled Namerind to secure the broader funding needed to move the project forward, and without that investment, the project would not have started. The result will be 48 new homes for up to 168 people and another example of what Indigenous-led, for Indigenous, by Indigenous (FIBI) housing can achieve."
The project has been in the works for over a decade, and so this was a long-awaited day for Namerind Housing Corporation. Byers thanked all the government partners for “believing in Namerind and for committing the funding that will help bring this important housing project to life.”
“You know, this is a big day for Namerind. But what means the most to me is thinking about the 48 families who get to call this place home. Think about what having a safe, affordable, quality home can mean. A place to call your own. A place to watch your kids grow. And a place to think about the future. And a place to build that future.”
As for when they hope to see the project completed and families moved in, Byers pointed to next December.
