Mission in action : Nokoowaayi delivers safety and comfort

By Lethbridge Herald on January 14, 2026.

Lethbridge Housing Authority Chief Administrative Officer Robin James shows visitors the third-floor outdoor recreation area, designed to provide residents with a safe space for fresh air and socializing, during a tour of the My Home Nokoowaayi supportive housing complex on Tuesday.

By Joe Manio,

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter- Lethbridge Herald

Construction of My Home Nokoowaayi, a 30-unit supportive housing complex on Stafford Drive North, was completed in September 2025 with the goal of giving stable, recovery‑oriented housing and support services for vulnerable adults who need help with daily living and long‑term stability.

The first tenants began moving in during October and three months later dozens of people call Nokoowaayi home with more qualified residents on the way. On January 13 members of the Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA) were given a guided tour of Nokoowaayi.

Nokoowayi is not a shelter or temporary accommodation, but meant to be long‑term housing with wraparound support that helps people find stability, community, and dignity while addressing the root causes of homelessness and chronic instability.

“I think it’s important to know that this is someone’s home,” says Chief Administrative Officer of the Lethbridge Housing Authority Robin James. “It’s not unlike a lodge for seniors, but this is a lodge for people with special needs; and this will be their (permanent) home.”

The name Nokoowaayi means “My Home” in Blackfoot, and it was chosen to honor Indigenous culture and reflect the housing project’s mission: to provide residents with a safe, stable, and welcoming place where they can build community and access the supports they need to thrive.

Residents at My Home Nokoowaayi do not pay rent directly in the traditional sense; instead, a flat monthly fee of approximately $1,200 is automatically deducted from their Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) payments.

Nokoowaayi meets residents’ needs at every level…providing safe, stable housing and nutritious meals, ensuring basic survival. Supportive staff and shared programs foster community and belonging, while opportunities to contribute and engage build confidence and self-respect. Freed from daily worries, residents can focus on personal growth and fulfillment.

Three months after opening, Nokoowaayi is already making an impact with residents reporting feeling safer and more connected.

“I feel like I’m really well-treated every day, says 36-year-old Anthony Reyes, who is in recovery himself. “The roommates are good, the neighbors are good, the staff are good. It’s a good place to be.”.

Nothing says you’re home like food. They say home is where the heart is, but it’s also where the stomach is. At Nokoowaayi, residents find not only a safe place to live but also a taste of home, thanks to former Miro Bistro owner (and un-retired chef) Miro Kyjac, who brings decades of experience to the kitchen. Each meal is prepared with care, offering residents comfort and familiarity.

“He’s probably the best chef in town. He retired and retired his business. He gave us a call and said he was interested in coming back to work and we’ve been able to hire him here. We don’t pay him anywhere near what we would in the regular market…this is definitely him giving back for sure,” says James.

One striking feature at Nokoowaayi is it’s dedicated smudge room designed like a tipi (and can actually be seen from outside the facility), where Blackfoot elders lead traditional ceremonies such as smudging and drumming. The space gives residents a place for spiritual grounding and connection to Indigenous culture within the supportive housing environment.

Because the facility was completed under budget, work has been continuing since opening to improve services to residents.

“It was to the tune of a little over $200,000…and we’re putting it towards adding homecare rooms. We’re still finishing off that other space and we didn’t think we would be able to finish it off. But because we had the extra money, we asked for permission and we were able to finish off that commercial space,” says James.

Work at Nokoowaayi is ongoing, with more on-site support services, programming, and staff expected in the coming months to fully equip the facility for long-term resident care and recovery