Knevada Osborne is working on Lii Michif Otipemisiwak's latest housing project Kikékyelc: A Place of Belonging. Osborne is a former youth in care that was homeless until recently (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

Kikékyelc: A Place of Belonging

Metis agency behind historic social housing project proud of contributions by former homeless youth

Dec 11, 2019 | 5:04 PM

KAMLOOPS — A historic social housing project that will see Indigenous youth and elders all under the same roof is well underway.

The 31-unit building on Singh Street in Brocklehurst is headed up by Metis agency Lii Michif Otipemisiwak and is expected to be finished in the summer. Some of the workers helping to construct the units are the same people who will benefit from living in Kikékyelc: A Place of Belonging.

Knevada Osborne is working on a housing project that is close to his heart. While he won’t be one of the 31 residents, he knows the importance of youth-oriented housing. “It’s a lot of pride,” said Osborne. “There’s a lot of good in what is happening just on this site alone, let alone what LMO (Lii Michif Otipemisiwak) is doing in the long run.”

Osborne, now 19 years old, aged out of the system six months ago and found himself homeless.

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“I was roofing in Chilliwack, came out here and became homeless with my girlfriend. We lived in a tent for almost three months,” said Osborne. “I then woke up every morning to come to this site from my tent and work.”

Within weeks of working on Kikékyelc, he was hired by Casman Developments in Kamloops. He secured housing this week for himself, his girlfriend, and children with another one on the way.

“It’s definitely a big relief. Honestly, I could’ve even come up with the words to describe how it feels, knowing where I was and where I’ve come. It’s definitely been a journey. Without the people I have in my corner, I wouldn’t be able to do it without them.”

LMO has funded 10 youth to work on the project at one time or another with D&T Developments, the general contractor.

“One of the greatest highlights for me has been our youth construction team where we’ve got young people, many of whome have been homeless, so engaged and involved in the actual construction of Kikékyelc,” said executive director of LMO Colleen Lucier.

Chanse Downes will be living in the building once it’s complete in June. He takes pride in working on the project and can’t wait to move in. The units will be for youth 16 to 27 years old who will be living under the same roof as elders.

For Osborne, he’s been through a positive transformation because of this development. From being homeless to working full-time, he’s well on his way to success in life.