Omamoo-Wango-Gamik (Belvedere) is an Indigenous-led housing initiative that provides homes to people who are unable to find adequate housing. The 42 unit, affordable housing project in Belvedere is a partnership between Right At Home Housing Society and NiGiNan Housing Ventures. Through Niginan’s cultural support programming, some of the units are reserved for kokums (in Cree, “grandmother”) who can act as mentors for families who are at-risk. The building includes office space for social workers to work on-site with an approach that is sensitive to Indigenous rights and needs as the tenants settle into a stable environment.
Avienda arrived as a resident at Belvedere almost two years ago while she was still pregnant with her youngest daughter. Prior to moving in, Avienda recalls she was evicted from other homes twice in one year and was facing homelessness. Since her time moving into this model of housing, she has felt secure and is able to maintain her tenancy with the supports that are in place.
Avienda has found herself as part of the community that is built within this housing complex. She chairs a weekly Narcotics Anonymous meeting that serves the residents, participates in weekly yoga, and enjoys some bingo games the residents share in their free time.
Avienda has found value in a traditional parenting group that has formed within the walls of the building, in which kokums support parents and those interested in learning more about Indigenous approaches to raising children within a cultural context.
When asked about what she might tell others who are worried about the stigma of a similar low-income housing program, Avienda says “it’s really intimidating at first, but once you spend some time in this environment, it feels very comfortable. It’s always hard to ask for help at first. You wonder ‘why is this person trying to make me do this?’ or ‘why are they offering me a ride somewhere?’”. Avienda says the staff at Belvedere are focused on letting residents lead the way. “They always have their doors open,” she says. “They are persistent and consistent, and they never give up on you.”
Avienda now enjoys the stability of a home with her two children, aged three and one years old. But more than that, Avienda has a place within her community where she can connect with others who share her cultural background and have become a truly supportive community where she can thrive.
