RHA: 6 family housing units will ‘help put a dent’ in wait lists

Six new social housing units meant for larger families are now under construction near Regina’s Regent Park.

They will each be two-storey high and have four bedrooms.

The project is funded by the National Housing Stategy. It’s a bilateral agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan committing $2.1 million.

Faith Myers, the acting general manager of the Regina Housing Authority, said around 400 people in total are on the wait list with around 60 families waiting for the large units.

“We do have large units throughout the portfolio as people move on,” she said. “This will help put a dent in it for sure.”

Construction should wrap up on the units in March of 2025.

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Gene Makowsky, the minister in charge of the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation, said the units are another step forward in accommodating the growing needs of the city.

“I know that we are heading in the right direction when it comes to getting people into units,” he said.

Makowsky said the construction of the new units shows the province is trying to adapt to the needs of the community.

“Trying to meet the need, trying to turn over units as quickly as possible, that’s always been a bit of a challenge,” he said. “But I think that the property we are standing on here is indicative of what the housing corporation is trying to do.”

The Regina Housing Authority has 3,100 housing units in total, with around 1,500 family housing units, according to Myers.