REGINA — Single mothers in Regina will soon be offered affordable housing and support at the newly opened Lilium Village run by MayBell Developments.
The 12-unit duplexes aim to support mothers coming out of difficult situations.
“Violent situations, but also potentially addictions or even just the very minimal of struggling to make ends meet on what our government allows for housing allowances,” said Victoria Aspinall, board chair of MayBell Developments.
Aspinall said supports for mothers will break the cycle of generational poverty.
“We offer educational programming which focuses on financial education as well as improving those soft job skills and tenancy training so that at the end of our two to five year transition period, they are well-equipped with skills that they would require to move into the rental market again.”
From day one, Aspinall said the mothers will work with women’s support workers.
The City of Regina approved zoning in 2022, and after four years construction is set to begin in January.
Funding for the village was provided through a 50-year mortgage via the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, grants from Regina, donors and partners, said Aspinall.
The project was budgeted at nearly $3.5 million.
Construction for the village is expected to be completed in February. Aspinall said there is already a waitlist for spaces.
As for future plans, Aspinall said MayBell Developments is looking to replicate the building.
“We would love to do something on a little bigger scale in the next one, where we're looking not just at serving single moms, but at broadening that to serve general families,” said Aspinall.
