REGINA — The YWCA Regina will now oversee an affordable housing project set to open in the fall.
On Wednesday, Regina city council unanimously approved entering into a sale agreement with the organization to transfer ownership of the Orange Buffalo Lodge, located at 2710 5th Avenue.
The 30-unit affordable housing project first began construction in 2023, but funding was exhausted in late 2024, temporarily halting completion. At the time, North Central Family Centre oversaw the project, which aimed to create a $4 million community hub in the space.
To help complete the project, the City of Regina invested $3 million last fall through the Housing Accelerator Fund to finish construction and took ownership of the property in 2026. However, the city never intended to own or operate the space once construction was complete, instead focusing on finding a non-profit housing provider to manage the building.
After reviewing numerous applications, the city selected YWCA Regina as the successful operator.
According to a submitted report, YWCA Regina plans to transform the lodge into a hybrid housing model.
“This combines supportive housing with Indigenous-led family reunification, meeting the complex needs of women and families transitioning from institutional systems or working to regain stability. Access to both streams runs through a coordinated referral process with the Ministry of Social Services and community partners.”
Under YWCA Regina’s plan, the 30 units will be divided among 17 units for Indigenous people, 10 for young adults and three for seniors. Meanwhile, 15 units will be prioritized for women and their children.
During the July 22 Regina executive committee meeting, YWCA Regina CEO Melissa Coomber-Bendtsen said 90 per cent of individuals in the organization’s Regina housing programs identify as Indigenous, while more than 4,000 women and children are currently on a housing waitlist.
YWCA Regina also plans to continue the North Central Family Centre’s vision for a community hub, including a social-enterprise laundromat that will employ people living at the lodge, a commercial kitchen creating employment opportunities for women and youth, and a gathering space designed around the needs of the North Central community.
External funding is required to complete the hub, but YWCA Regina remains confident the necessary support will come from the Ministry of Social Services and the Ministry of Justice. The City of Regina could also provide funding if savings are found from its $3 million investment.
YWCA Regina intends to open the hub on Sept. 1, with renters expected to move in within 30 days.
As part of the agreement, YWCA Regina would operate the space for 20 years, in accordance with funding obligations from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation, which require the lodge to remain operational for two decades.
