Sask. government attempting to finish stalled housing project in North Central

WATCH: The province is approaching Ottawa to find a way forward for the stalled Orange Buffalo lodge housing project in North Central. Wayne Mantyka reports.

Saskatchewan’s provincial government is attempting to find a way to complete a stalled rapid housing project in North Central Regina.

Work on the 30 unit Orange Buffalo Lodge stopped last November after $8 million in government funding ran out. Now, the province is approaching Ottawa about what to do next.

“The original funding for this project, the majority of it did come from the federal government and I think you if we can have a discussion on that and figure out a way forward and help North Central Family Centre get this project completed,” Minister of Social Services Terry Jenson explained.

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The North Central Family Centre committed $4 million toward a community hub to be located in the building.

“There is a huge housing crisis in our community and an affordability crisis as well – so a lot of folks are struggling to get by and Orange Buffalo Lodge is an opportunity for folks to really work on themselves, be provided with what they need,” Kim Wenger, the executive director of the North Central Family Centre, told CTV News.

The North Central Family Centre has raised nearly half it’s financial commitment through the Hopes and Dreams Campaign.

“We’re excited now. We went through three elections in talking to three levels of government, Hopes and Dreams Campaign Chair Doug McNair explained. “We had to hold things off I guess during the elections and the final one, the federal election. Now we’re very encouraged by discussions we’ve been having with the province.”

The project was 80 per cent completed when construction paused last November.

The North Central Family Centre would like to see the job completed as soon as possible to avoid further cost escalation and to begin providing needed services to the community.