YWCA offers to finish and operate stalled North Central housing project
The YWCA Regina says it is ready to take over operations of the partially built Orange Buffalo Lodge in the city’s North Central neighbourhood and deliver a community-minded, affordable housing service — if the city gives final approval.
The city assumed control of the 30-unit complex in December after the North Central Family Centre encountered significant cost overruns. Construction of the building, delayed for about two years, is expected to be complete by the end of August, according to submissions to city council.
At an executive committee meeting this week, councillors voted unanimously to support the YWCA’s proposal. The organisation’s pitch will return to city council for final approval on July 29.
“We are really excited … we feel very confident we will be able to meet the requirements the city has with its funding bodies (on this project),”
— YWCA Regina executive director Melissa Coomber-Bendtsen, addressing council.
What the YWCA plans and why it matters locally
The YWCA told councillors it would preserve plans for a first-floor community hub and provide a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom suites intended to plug gaps in Regina’s affordable housing chain. The organisation noted heavy ongoing demand: it serves shelters with a waitlist that tops 4,000 women and children each year.
- Number of units: 30
- Bedroom mix: one-, two- and three-bedroom suites
- Construction completion: expected by end of August
- Affordability commitment: 20 years under the city’s agreement with CMHC
Affordability rules and the public funding link
If the YWCA becomes operator, it is expected to honour the city’s original agreement with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), which requires all units be offered as affordable housing for at least 20 years. Under CMHC’s definition, “affordable” means housing that costs no more than 30 per cent of a household’s pre-tax income.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Units | 30 |
| Operator (proposed) | YWCA Regina |
| Completion expected | End of August |
| Affordability term | 20 years (CMHC requirement) |
The timing matters for both residents and funders. Completing the project would fulfil a federal funding arrangement and expand the small supply of affordable family-sized suites in North Central, an area that has seen repeated housing initiatives in recent years.
City staff took over the site after the North Central Family Centre’s project ran into cost overruns. The YWCA said it was honoured to be chosen through the city’s spring tender process and believes it can meet reporting and funding obligations tied to the build.
The decision next week will determine who runs the building when tenants begin moving in. For many on the YWCA’s shelter waitlist — including women and children who need a step from supportive housing into affordable housing — the project represents a potential link in a stretched housing chain.
Final council approval on July 29 will confirm whether the YWCA takes on day-to-day operations and the stewardship of the Orange Buffalo Lodge for the coming decades.
