CUMFI breaks ground on new Indigenous affordable housing project

The Central Urban Metis Federation Inc. (CUMFI) broke ground on a new affordable housing project in the Pleasant Hill neighbourhood Wednesday.
“This is going to be 14 community units, 58 bedrooms, and we're going to be serving moms with large families, so there's such a need for it in our community,” said CUMFI president Shirley Isbister.
“CUMFI has a lot of apartment blocks where we house our families, either moms, or two parent families or dads as head of the household, and once they're in our homes, their children are returned from foster care. That's one of the biggest things that CUMFI does, and we have emergency receiving and we have a Wellness centre, so for me it's become all about affordable housing, and these units will be affordable.”
CUMFI says the project is being managed by the city which will funnel $3,781,518 from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
“Everyone deserves a roof over their head and a safe place to call home,” said mayor Charlie Clark.
“One of the most crucial forms of housing we need right now is housing that comes with supports. Supports are critical to help people stabilize and get back on their feet, which is what CUMFI is including in their housing project," he said.
The province is also providing $378,000.
“Our government is proud to support the important work of Central Urban Metis Federation Inc. through the Saskatchewan Co-Investment Program,” said Sask. Party MLA Terry Jenson.
“This project is an important step forward in achieving our shared goal to support those in need of housing, and I thank CUMFI for their continued advocacy to develop more affordable housing options for people and families in Saskatoon.”
Isbister says the grand opening of the project will be Nov. 29, when a quarter of the units will be open for families to begin moving in. The rest of the units will be open shortly after.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Alleged Montreal-area 'Chinese police stations' planning to sue RCMP for $2.5 million
Two Chinese community centres in the Montreal area are planning to launch a $2.5 million defamation lawsuit against the RCMP and the Attorney General of Canada after being accused by the police force of hosting 'alleged Chinese police stations.'
With Canada set to reimpose cap on working hours, international students worry about paying for tuition, living expenses
Canada is set to reimpose the cap on the number of hours that international students can work off campus. But with heightened cost-of-living concerns in Canada, many international students say they're not sure how they'll be able to afford their tuition and living expenses if they can't work full-time.
Inmate stabbed Derek Chauvin 22 times, charged with attempted murder, prosecutors say
A federal inmate was charged Friday with attempted murder in the prison stabbing of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd.
Lawyer in Ali murder trial says 13-year-old B.C. victim was not an 'innocent'
Ibrahim Ali's lawyer says the 13-year-old girl he's accused of murdering in a British Columbia park wasn't the “innocent” depicted in a “rose-coloured” portrayal by the Crown at trial.
'Jumped over their heads': Kangaroo escapes Ontario zoo during overnight stay
The search for a kangaroo that escaped an Ontario zoo will resume on Saturday morning, according to volunteers attempting to catch the marsupial.
Mild, rainy winter expected as Canada warms at twice the global rate
Winter will be unusually warm and rainy across much of the country this year, according to the latest data from Environment and Climate Change Canada.
Paraguay official resigns after signing agreement with fictional country
A Paraguayan government official was replaced after it was revealed that he signed a memorandum of understanding with representatives of a fugitive Indian guru's fictional country, who also appear to have duped several local officials in the South American country.
CSIS to probe B.C. office after allegations of rape, harassment and toxic workplace
Canada's spy agency says it has launched a workplace assessment of its British Columbia office over 'serious allegations' raised by whistleblowers who say they were sexually assaulted and harassed by a senior officer.
Judge rejects Trump's claim of immunity in his federal 2020 election prosecution
Donald Trump is not immune from prosecution in his election interference case in Washington, a federal judge ruled Friday, knocking down the Republican's bid to derail the case charging him with plotting to overturn the 2020 presidential election.