Photo: Robert Byers, CEO Namerind Regina / Photo provided by Namerind Housing Corporation
By Joshua Potter
MBC News Freelance Correspondent
First Nations University of Canada
Byers is out to make significant social change by seeing everyone housed by 2030. In the beginning of April, the non-profit Namerind Housing Corporation announced this new plan, one of its largest to date, with the support of other organizations and all levels of government.
“It’s going to take all of us pulling in the same direction,” stated Byers.
Namerind’s CEO Robert Byers, alongside the others involved in the project are working towards reducing and eliminating homelessness for all people from different walks of life.
This is including a specific look into the indigenous population as they make up 75 percent of the homeless population by taking a for-indigenous-by-indigenous approach.
This plan is similar to a plan that was made back in 2019, and when asking Byers what differentiates this plan from the one six years ago, he stated how “the support fell short” and further added how they “weren’t working together” for the previous one.
Namerind’s CEO has called upon municipal and provincial governments alongside various organizations to help his corporation achieve their five-year goal. Byers discussed how the political environment has changed in terms of a newer council being appointed and went on record to say how he hasn’t met with the mayor “in over four years.” Byers met with Regina’s new mayor, Chad Bachynski, on May 9th to discuss Regina’s homelessness plan.
Namerind’s housing corporation is willing to offer a helping hand to anyone who is willing, not just by finding people a home but also by helping those who want to register or reregister for indigenous status, providing a space for women to give birth, but most of all helping people stay on track.
“Showing young people another way” was how Byers stated his corporation’s intentions to get to the root of the problem by reaching out to the youth of our society.
There is an urgency to go into high schools and talk to the younger generations to find out what is going on and how these kids have gotten into this position.
CEO Byers and Namerind’s goal is to make people feel as though they are not a lost cause and to always instill confidence in people that they can turn their lives around if they are willing to.
By going out and extending a helping hand to people, sometimes it is all it can take for those individuals to realize they are being seen and heard.
Over the last two years, Namerind has already helped house 1000 people, which is viewed by everyone involved as just a starting point.
“I’ve lost so much support since becoming homeless,” stated an elderly man who has been living on the streets for over ten years now. This man—who asked not to be named—has lost the support of those closest to him and feels as though he is a hopeless cause.
Namrind Housing Corporation CEO Byers is determined to get everyone who is homeless housed. However, Byers has realized how important the support of governments and organizations, whether non-profit or not, is going to be crucial if his goal is to become a reality.
Whether that be talking to young people or attempting to connect those with their loved ones, Byers and his organization’s goal is clear: prevention is key; helping end Regina’s homelessness epidemic is pivotal.
For more information regarding the project, contact the Namerind Housing Corporation at reception@namrind.com or call (306) 525-0147 for any questions you may have.