Waterloo Indigenous transitional housing program being put on pause

An Indigenous program, offering transitional housing in the community, is now on hold. Spencer Turcotte tells us why.

A significant loss of resources is coming to Waterloo’s Indigenous community.

The KW Urban Native Wigwam Project is putting a pause on its transitional housing program.

Terry Restoule has lived at 34 Bridgeport Rd. E. for the last six months and was sad to hear the announcement.

“It has meant the world to me. I had my partner pass away in July and I would have been on the streets, or even worse, if it weren’t for this place,” said Restoule.

The program helps Indigenous people transition from temporary to permanent housing, while providing cultural supports.

“I didn’t realize this place was here. And it provided me with counselling, Indigenous events and just support in every aspect,” Restoule said.

So when word got out that residents would have to move out it was a tough blow for tenants.

“I don’t know where other Indigenous people will go,” said Restoule. “They are going to try and find us appropriate housing, but it’s still up in the air for even us residents.”

The organization says that based on feedback from clients, they have decided to pause the transitional housing program.

“The program will undergo a significant re-envisioning process with new staff and leadership to better meet the growing needs of Indigenous residents experiencing homelessness,” a statement reads, in part.

It goes on to say “… taking this pause and restructuring will allow us to identify a new location and design a program that is sustainable.”

CTV News reached out to get clarification on how many residents will need to be relocated and what this means for staff who work at the site. That information was not provided.

Part of the decision to pause is because the site was only ever supposed to be temporary. With the lease ending in early May and the building expected to be demolished, tenants will have to move out in the coming months.

It is crushing for people like Shihan Shea who was hoping for a spot there.

“I currently have an application with their housing program, but I guess at the moment it’s on hold,” said Shea.

With few Indigenous housing services like it in Waterloo Region, Shea says she’s worried about where she’ll go now.

“There’s a lot of traditional lacking when you do go into other sorts of services because they don’t understand that we have those needs, and those types of things are not available,” Shea said.

As the program takes a pause to find its new home and renewed model, many just hope the pause is short-lived.

All other programs delivered by the KW Urban Native Wigwam Project in the meantime will continue to operate as usual.