NEWS RELEASE: NiGiNan and Right At Home open 42 permanent, supportive housing units

September 28, 2020 (Edmonton, AB) - A new, Indigenous-led housing initiative will provide homes to people who are level one AISH recipients or on income support who are unable to find adequate housing.
 

“NiGiNan exists to serve people in need by providing affordable and permanent supportive housing in Edmonton,” said Carola Cunningham, CEO of NiGiNan Housing Ventures. “With this project, the Right At Home Housing Society stepped into a partnership with NiGiNan and demonstrated true allyship. Together, we are making headway on reconcilACTION in the housing sector.” 

The 42 unit, affordable housing project in Belvedere is a partnership between NiGiNan Housing Ventures and the Right At Home Housing Society. Previously, NiGiNan was running a re-housing program out of the Transit Hotel, the partnered organizations are now working to house some of those same people NiGiNan served in the area.

“Right at Home and our partner Niginan Housing Ventures are thankful for the funding and operational support from the federal, provincial and municipal governments. Permanent Supportive Housing is an investment in people and community. This new building in Northeast Edmonton will bring dignity, safety and greater health outcomes to those who are most vulnerable in our community," said Stuart Kehrig, chairman of the board of directors for the Right At Home Housing Society.   

Belvedere tenants will have access to a myriad of services including resident Indigenous Elders, 24 hour support staff, and a housing support worker provided by the partnering agencies.

“Every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home.  With today’s announcement 42 families will have homes near the services they need.  This is a great example of the National Housing Strategy at work,” said Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and the Minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

The Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta jointly contributed $6 million to fund the project. 

“I am pleased to see the new housing project open its doors. These apartments will give those most in need access to a stable home with supports to help them get back on their feet. Through this project, Alberta’s government is delivering on its commitment to address the need for more permanent supportive housing.” Josephine Pon, Minister of Seniors and Housing.

The City of Edmonton provided $3 million through their Cornerstone grant to ensure Edmonton’s most vulnerable have a place to call home.

“Increasing the supply of permanent supportive housing is a key priority for the City as housing like this is an essential element in ending homelessness and poverty. I’m glad that this housing complex will provide Edmontonians who are struggling with a safe place to call home and the safety and support they need to lead healthy and connected lives, " said Don Iveson, Mayor, City of Edmonton

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About The Right At Home Housing Society

The Right At Home Housing Society builds and manages high quality affordable housing to meet the needs of our community. The Society provides positive alternatives for those currently without a home, living in substandard accommodation, or spending a disproportionate amount of their income on housing. A range of supportive services are also provided to our residents including mentor and peer support.

About NiGiNan Housing Ventures

NiGiNan Housing Ventures is a registered charity that was formed to address the particular needs and requirements of Indigenous People living in Edmonton. NiGiNan is dedicated to providing supportive affordable housing opportunities for individuals and families of Indigenous ancestry, who have not been successfully served by any other organization in Edmonton.

NiGiNan's first development, Ambrose Place, is one of the most successful programs and housing complexes for Edmonton's formerly hardest to house Indigenous persons.

Ka nâkateyimiwehk – Protection; keeping something from harm

We got first word of the impending pandemic through the news: China and Italy were experiencing something extreme and it was on its way around the world. We watched as the virus made its way to Canada. By the beginning of March, Alberta saw its first presumptive case. Our immediate response was to meet with residents to explain the pandemic and how it may impact their lives and the delivery of service from staff at Ambrose Place. We didn’t even know what it was or what the future of our service would look like, but we, as frontline workers, had to stay strong. The next step was to secure personal protective equipment (PPE), toilet paper, cleaning supplies and food – before the masses scooped everything up. The news said supplies were depleting from grocery stores and barren shelves confirmed it.

Visitors were no longer permitted at Ambrose Place and our residents were confined to their units when they were home. Medication and food were delivered directly to resident units, which put workers at the forefront of close contact.

At the beginning of the isolation orders, many of us were very scared considering a few residents were in and out despite orders to remain in place and we were making contact with each resident every day. All activities were put on hold, but we continued to smudge the building and pray for our residents, staff and community. The Office of the Chief Medical Officer (OCMO) updates were posted for residents to stay informed, but the updates kept staff informed just as well. The updates made us both more and less scared at the same time; contraction numbers were climbing, but the information available was growing as well. 

A consistent communication plan was established with our partners, Alberta Health Services (AHS) Mental Health & Addictions and Homeward Trust, including weekly video calls to provide guidance about the OCMO updates and interruptions. Part of the communication plan included access to PPE inventory, access to additional resources to support residents in place and provide access to funds for additional costs incurred due to COVID-19. Our needs increased throughout the pandemic and our partners were an integral support to the health and safety of everyone at Ambrose Place.

Figure 1 Masks made by Ambrose Place residents to protect against COVID-19

Although we never officially had a case, we were declared an outbreak site as we met the OCMO requisites of two or more residents and staff with matching symptoms. This was often the case as many residents that use substances commonly experience mild cough, runny nose and temperature changes. The clarification of the definition of an outbreak caused us to fall under more stringent rules for reporting, yet staff had to continue business as usual, the new usual. Being placed in the eye of the storm every day is frightening, but our residents are family and their safety is worth the risk. 

After being declared an outbreak site, the next step was to establish a new internal protocol to refer each staff and resident symptom to the Lead LPN/Health Manager who then works with the Executive Director. This created a stronger sense of control and confidence in each situation. In hindsight, this support should have been implemented earlier, but we are all learning how to respond to a pandemic of this magnitude.

As of June 1, we began moving to a new sense of normalcy. This includes a new manner of dining in the cafeteria: each floor now dines separately, at half hour intervals, to a maximum of 14 residents per mealtime. The morning smudging ceremony now sees a maximum of seven residents per session, over two sessions daily. Some residents still keep to their units for mealtimes and remain fearful of going out. Our strategies of masking, social distancing and keeping hands and surfaces clean provides a sense of protection at Ambrose Place. We are still nervous about the virus, but we have more control over our facility and a little more confidence in our response. We will be ready for the next one.

Ambrose Daniels’ legacy lives on through Ambrose Place

When NiGiNan opened its first facility in 2014, 46% of people experiencing houselessness in Edmonton identified as Indigenous, compared to just over 5% of the city’s overall population (source). Ambrose Daniels was one of these people.

Ambrose was born and raised in the Buffalo Lake Metis Settlement 125 km northeast of the city. He was surrounded by a supportive network of community members and worked in his trade until health complications forced him out of work and eventually led him to using substances to cope.

Ambrose made his way to Edmonton to live with a new-found family in an inner-city apartment. There, he showed great generosity in providing a warm place to sleep for those without a home.

His generosity, unfortunately, led to an eventual eviction became unhoused. Housing was difficult to access as an Indigenous person living with health and substance use issues.

Shelters were nearly always full and his situation led him to contract pneumonia. Without a warm place to rest and recover, he passed away at the age of 54 while living on the streets of Edmonton.

The love and support shown by Ambrose during his time living unhoused and his eventual passing inspired the creation of Ambrose Place. Ambrose accepted those that needed a warm place to sleep as a friend and without judgement.

At Ambrose Place, there is no pressure to immediately quit substance use. There is a sense of community that encourages healthy living, which leads to residents choosing healthier habits.

If a facility like Ambrose Place had come to Edmonton sooner; Ambrose, and many more like him, may have been able to survive or could have passed comfortably, feeling loved and at home.