Indigenous transitional housing complex opens up near North Bay’s downtown, set to offer hope to homeless

An Indigenous transitional housing complex located close to North Bay’s downtown is aiming to help the city’s homeless population transition to an independent lifestyle.

The Suswin Village, which began accepting its first clients in March, held its official grand opening Friday.

Willie Daigle of the Garden River First Nation was one of the first residents accepted – at age 54, he was homeless for seven years before finding a room at the complex.

“There were a lot of days I went crying at night wondering when I was going to get my next meal and wondering where I was going to lay my head," Daigle said to the crowd.

“Most of the time it was a scary thought. As a homeless person you carry around all of your valuables. You have no choice but to push a buggy.”

In Ojibway, Suswin means “nest”.

Suswin Village is taking a welcoming approach for people like Daigle so they can feel comfortable and safe when staying at the centre by offering transitional housing with the aim of one-day placing residents into permanent homes.

It’s the first time an Indigenous friendship centre in Canada has built and managed housing for the people it serves.

“We're here to provide that service,” said Kathy Fortin, executive director of the North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre.

“It'll lower the cost of policing, ambulance and all around."

The chosen site on Cassells Street previously had two 100-year-old single-family homes on the property. Construction on this long-awaited project began in the summer of 2019 when those two homes had to be demolished before work could begin.

Shovels were in the ground to actually start the build in April, 2021.

The centre has enough rooms to accommodate 30 people. Each individual room has its own bed, bathroom, closet and desk. Residents can stay here for up to four years. As of Friday, 10 people were calling Suswin Village their home.

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“We've had a few gentlemen that have come out of institutions like the hospital and of course people coming out of custody and youth custody as young men,” said Becky Mathies, the village’s case manager.

When a resident successfully applies and is admitted, they can take part in a number of different life improvement services during their stay, including: cultural and other life skills – such as cooking, financial planning, help with education or job search and in some cases, anger management workshops.

The program offers 24-hour support services to its residents.

“I'm hoping that by the end of the summer, we'll be getting close to capacity,” said Mathies. “Of course we have accessible rooms so they won't be used unless they're necessary."

The Canadian Government is chipping in approximately $2.6 million through the CANDO/Indigenous Homes Innovation Initiative fund. Meanwhile, the Ontario Government providing $100,000 and other funding sources such as Employment and Social Development Canada and Ontario Aboriginal Housing, have collectively contributed $2.6 million.

The total cost of the build is around $7.2 million

Suswin Village will be staffed by nearly 20 people with experience in social work.

Daigle told CTV News he sees this facility as a game changer for homeless individuals in the city like it has been for him.

"I've been here for four months and it's been the best four months I have had," he said.

Willie Daigle of the Garden River First Nation was one of the first residents accepted to Suswin Village. (Eric Taschner/CTV News Northern Ontario)