Ottawa commits $9.1M to First Nation’s affordable housing redevelopment of long-empty south Osborne building

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This article was published 26/02/2025 (192 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A $9.1-million makeover for a vacant heritage building at Osborne Street and Morley Avenue will soon house 13 families in need.

Ottawa has earmarked the money through the Affordable Housing Fund and the Indigenous Shelter and Transitional Housing Initiative to help Fisher River Cree Nation redevelop the 110-year-old Rubin Block into 13 transitional homes for women and their children who have been victims of violence.

Plans for the block at 270 Morley, which has been empty since a fire in 2014, were announced in July. Construction for redevelopment began in October and is expected to be completed in May 2026.

“It’s going to provide safe housing for women and families who require this service,” said Fisher River Chief David Crate.

Fisher River has run a similar transitional housing program — the First Nation Healing Centre — in the First Nation since 1991.

“We’re establishing a one-year program for women to take part in while they’re living here,” healing centre executive director Katina Cochrane said.

Supports will include counselling, group therapy, ceremonies and land-based healing, among others. Child care will also be provided.

“We’ve helped women get in their own apartments here in Winnipeg, find their own place to live, find work, get into daycares with their kids and (live) a good life,” Cochrane said.

The funding falls under a $240-million umbrella announced at the Rubin Block Wednesday by Federal Housing Minister Nathaniel Erskine-Smith. It includes contributions and low-interest loans to build, repair and renew more than 3,750 new homes in more than 100 housing projects in Manitoba.

“The market alone won’t deliver the housing affordability we need,” Erskine-Smith said. “These projects represent major progress in returning a strong federal role to affordable and non-market housing. It’s now time to double down on that commitment.”

Some of the announced funding dollars had previously been announced, and some of the projects funded have already been completed, the federal government said.

The projects announced all fall under the country’s National Housing Strategy, a 10-year, $115-billion plan to provide more homes for Canadians.

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca