For the first time, 1-bedroom units will be purpose-built for Indigenous people in Waterloo region

An investment from the federal government will help build more affordable housing units for Indigenous peopleand youthin Waterloo region.

Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion,Ahmed Hussen,made the funding announcement Thursday morning.

He said the $7.1 million will pay for two housing projects: one forKW Urban Native Wigwam Project and the other, forOneRoof Youth Services.

We need to be intentional in providing the kind of housing that they need," Regional Chair Karen Redman said.

As the demand for more affordable housing grows in the region, Indigenous communities and youth are often at a disadvantage when accessing affordable housing. Approximately 74 units will be constructed between the two projects.

Housing has 'just been for families'

Of the 30units overseen by KW Urban Native Wigwam Project in Cambridge, 16 will be specifically forIndigenous women and their children. Executive director Lee Ann Hundtsaid the rest will be single-bedroom units.

"One of the biggest barriers we face, besides discrimination, is that we haven't been able to provide one-bedroom units ever," she said.

"This is going to include a lot of singles that we haven't been able to support before because our housing has just been for families."

Hundt said theKW Urban Native Wigwam Project has over 250 people on its wait-list which operates separately from the region's affordable housing wait-list and the additional units will help address the growing need in Cambridge.

Affordable housing for youth almost 'non existent'

OneRoof Youth Services will be looking after 44 new units in Kitchener, with25 allocated for homeless youth,15 for youththat need mental health or addiction supports and fourunits for Indigenous youth.

Executive directorSandy Dietrich-Bell, saidaffordable housing in the region for youth is almostnon-existent.

"Landlords, when theyhave options as to who to rent to, a young person is not high on their list and certainly not a young person that comes to them with some challenges," she said.

Thesetwo new builds are partof the Region of Waterloo's affordable housing strategyto build2,500 Homes in five years.

The federal government's investment is part of the Rapid Housing Initiative and theReaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy program. The Region of Waterloo said in a news release it's contributing $3 million toward theKW Urban Native Wigwam Project build.

Completion of both projects is expected by the end of2022.