For five years Robert Roche lived in his van as his life started to slip away.
A little over a year ago, Roche was connected with the Kitchener Waterloo Urban Native Wigwam Project (KWUNWP) and was put up in their transitional housing in Kitchener.
"I was over 400 pounds when I first got in there and now I've been given a second chance at life; I could hardly walk," said Roche. "I can't describe enough how much these people have done for me."
Roche has now been moved out of a shared room and into a newly built Indigenous housing development at 27 Cambridge St. in the heart of downtown Galt.
Living in a fully accessible unit, Roche has his own bed and space after living on the road in what he calls some of the darkest times of his life.
"I could wake up in a different backyard or place every single day, it didn't matter to me back then, but I'm happy where I'm at now," he said.
Moving trucks are starting to roll into the new development as construction wrapped up on Monday morning.
Executive director for KWUNWP, Lee Ann Hundt said that as soon as the contractor's gates came down, people started moving in.
"We have been waiting for over three years to finally say this, but people are now moving in and it feels so good," said Hundt. "Ironically, the biggest roadblock we had was securing land for this project."
After breaking ground on the site in 2022, the KWUNWP's journey to get this 30-unit building open has had its challenges, but residents like Roche have started to move out of transitional housing and into permanent units.
Hundt adds that for the past year they have been caring for many of the new residents in transitional housing as they prepared to move into their new homes in Cambridge.
"Now that they can come here, they are bringing that sense of community with them, they don't have to be worried about splitting up," said Hundt. "They formed real bonds living with each other and now they are excited for what this next chapter brings."
Roche met many new friends while living at the Kitchener location that have become like family to him.
"One of my past roommates is like a son to me. He is my caretaker, helps me with my laundry and even moved all of my stuff here by himself," he said.
The building at 27 Cambridge St. is not supportive housing and for many residents, this is the first time in years that they are able to live on their own.
Things like locks on the doors, freedom to come and go and just the privacy of having your own space are things that Hundt thinks a lot of people take for granted.
All 30 units were spoken for years before the building even opened.
"Right now we have several hundred people on our waiting list to get into affordable housing. It's even larger for the region that has thousands," she said.
The new space has a community room, conference room and a rooftop terrace that will be used to hold sacred fires, workshops and other indigenous events.
"There are so many things that we purposely built here that will help those living here and the broader community engage with our culture and practice it," said Hundt. "The roof also has such a great view of the Grand River that is so special to us and the fact that they can see it from here is so beautiful and a change for many of them."
Roche is excited to be able to participate in his culture and attend drumming circles and make crafts with other elders and the younger generation.
"This is the only place like this in Cambridge so we are all getting used to it, but we are beyond happy to be here. There are no words to describe how much this means to us," he said.
"The staff and doctors at the transitional housing saved my life. I could be in a tent somewhere, but they helped me have a second chance."
Now that the building is open, Hundt hopes to be able to showcase the development as an example of strong partnerships and the willingness to help the community.
"We want dignitaries and others to see this as an example of what we can do when we come together and help each other. This could be replicated not just for indigenous communities, but anywhere in the region," she said.
