YWCA aims to keep families together with take over of Orange Buffalo Lodge in Regina

Orange Buffalo Lodge, an affordable supportive housing project in north central Regina, is set to be taken over by YWCA Regina.

Regina city council unanimously approved entering into a sale agreement to transfer ownership of the 30-unit facility to the YWCA, who plan to have the facility open in September.

“We are in a situation where we were in need for more affordable housing units, particularly for families and families reunifying who are in care,” said Melissa Coomber-Bendtson, CEO of YWCA Regina.

The YWCA Regina currently operates several specialized supportive and transitional housing units, including 11 rooms in their supportive housing program, 10 semi-independent living units for youth, and 68 transitional housing units at the Centre for Women and Families.

The opportunity to provide housing and support to north central Regina, an inner-city neighbourhood that faces persistent socioeconomic challenges, was an obvious choice, said Coomber-Bendtson.

“The YWCA has been involved in conversations around revitalizing north central Regina, including bringing new housing opportunities there,” she said. “I think this will bring new opportunities to the community there, which is very important.”

Named by Elder Howie Thompson’s family to symbolize safety and resilience, the Orange Buffalo Lodge began being constructed in 2023 under the North Central Family Centre before financial setbacks stalled the project. The City of Regina took ownership in 2025, before transferring the building ownership to the YWCA.

Coomber-Bendtson said they plan on building out a social enterprise in the lodge to help support operations of the entire building and help raise employment opportunities. Plans include a laundromat to employ tenants at the lodge, and a commercial kitchen to provide employment to women and youth.

She also said there’s a gap they hope to fill in family reunification. There will be dedicated spaces for families with multiple children, as well as single mothers, to help prevent children being removed from their parents and put into care.

The 30 units will be divided among 17 units for Indigenous people, 10 for young adults, three for seniors, and 15 for women and children.

“For us, being able to have unit and appropriate housing that can support families staying together or avoid being torn apart is a huge focus of ours,” said Coomber-Bendtson.

“We see this as a great opportunity to change the course of what we’re seeing.”

The latest point-in-time count estimated over 750 individuals in Regina experiencing homelessness. Coomber-Bendtson said about 95 percent of the women and families in their supportive housing units are Indigenous.

The YWCA Regina turns away around 4,000 women and children per year from their shelter system – a number that has remained consistent for the last ten years, said Coomber-Bendtson.

“We recognized the inequity of housing that exists for Indigenous communities. There’s a gap and a need for housing units for Indigenous families that (Orange Buffalo Lodge) hopes to address.”

The YWCA hopes to have construction on the lodge complete for a September 1 opening. They are currently fundraising to finish construction on the first floor.

Once open, Coomber-Bendtson said she expects the lodge to fill quickly and evolve into becoming a hub of wellbeing and possibility in the community.

“I hope it becomes a cornerstone of vibrancy, health, and healing in the community,” she said.

“There’s a lot of people navigating mental health and addiction in north central – anyone can drive down the street and see that. But when we bring healthy, vibrant, positive, well-resourced opportunity, that fundamentally shifts and changes, it gives people a sense of hope, and I hope this building acts as a catalyst for that.”