Several members of the Indigenous community celebrated the opening of a new $38.5M affordable housing complex on Chancellor Drive, near the University of Manitoba. The apartments, 25% of which are earmarked for First Nations people, will offer 95 units at below-average rental rates. Border Land School Division Community Connector Lillian Fisher and University of Winnipeg Student Raina Alexander both told the Winnipeg Free Press that the dedicated housing is important to improving postsecondary attainment rates among Indigenous people. “If you know you have a safe place, you’re going to try,” said Fisher. “And if you don’t have a safe place to land, you go back to what you know — because that’s safe.” Residents were able to move into their new apartments on January 1.
