Keewaywin Capital Funds Gihekdagye Friendship Centre’s Purchase of Permanent Home

Funding Allows (Brantford Regional Indigenous Support Centre-BRISC) to Transition from Renter to Owner, Build Out Transitional Housing Units

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Keewaywin Capital Inc. (“Keewaywin”), an Indigenous-led private credit investment fund manager focused on Indigenous housing and infrastructure, today announced a financing initiative to support Gihekdagye Friendship Centre (BRISC) in acquiring its current facility and expanding access to transitional housing in Brantford, Ontario.

The investment is being delivered in partnership with Vancity Community Investment Bank and will enable BRISC to transition from tenant to owner, securing a permanent home for its operations while creating new capacity for transitional accommodation and wraparound support services.

BRISC is a Friendship Centre serving urban Indigenous communities across Brantford, Haldimand, and Norfolk Counties. The organization provides a range of essential services, including cultural programming, mental health and wellness supports, as well as housing assistance, and homelessness outreach.

By acquiring its facility, BRISC will strengthen the long-term stability of its programming while expanding its ability to support individuals and families navigating housing insecurity and complex social challenges.

“This investment is about creating stability – not just for an organization, but for the community it serves,” said Tracee Smith, Founder and CEO of Keewaywin Capital. “It is also about finding different, more flexible approaches for Indigenous communities and organizations to access capital outside of traditional banking and lending channels. By working alongside partners like Vancity, we are helping unlock solutions that provide safety, dignity, and long-term opportunity – things that don’t translate on a traditional loan or mortgage application.”

Access to stable, culturally grounded housing remains a critical challenge for Indigenous populations in urban centres, where demand for services continues to outpace available infrastructure. Organizations like BRISC play a vital role in bridging that gap: providing not only shelter, but culturally informed care and community connection.

Keewaywin’s financing model is designed to unlock projects like this by providing flexible, community-aligned capital that enables organizations to move forward with certainty and speed.

Shelly Hill, Executive Director of BRISC, said: “This investment allows us to put down permanent roots in the community we serve. Owning our space and expanding our services into the transitional housing capacity will strengthen our ability to support individuals and families on their journey towards meaningful wellness, as well as provide us with an asset we can leverage for future needs. Friendship Centres are the first point of contact to access culturally-based socio-economic programs and services which is crucial towards having a place of growth and development.”

“Our partnership with Keewaywin is rooted in a simple principle: that Indigenous communities deserve equitable access to capital that truly serves them,” said Jennifer Hutcheon, Head of Vancity Community Investment Bank. “This investment in BRISC delivers on that commitment by providing a stable, permanent foundation to expand transitional housing and provide holistic supports to the people they serve. That's what community-led, purpose-driven finance looks like in action.”

The transaction underscores the role of private credit in advancing Indigenous-led housing solutions, complementing public and institutional capital while enabling community organizations to scale their impact.

About Keewaywin Capital

Keewaywin Capital Inc. is an Indigenous-led private credit investment manager focused on financing housing and infrastructure projects across Indigenous communities in Canada. The firm partners with First Nations, Indigenous organizations, and aligned stakeholders to deliver flexible capital solutions that drive long-term social and economic outcomes.

About Vancity Community Investment Bank

Vancity Community Investment Bank is an Ontario-based Schedule 1 bank, a Certified B Corporation, and a subsidiary of Vancity. The bank provides specialized financing solutions for impactful projects like social purpose real estate and clean energy projects. For purpose-driven businesses and organizations, it offers banking, investing, and financing solutions tailor-made to increase their growth and impact.

About Gihekdagye Friendship Centre (BRISC)

The Gihekdagye Friendship Centre (“meaning along the river”) also known as Brantford Region Indigenous Centre is an urban Indigenous Friendship Centre located in Brantford, Ontario. Established in 2018, the organization is governed by a fully Indigenous Board of Directors and provides culturally grounded programs and services that support the social, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being of Indigenous individuals and families. The Centre delivers a wide range of programs including justice support, mental wellness and healthy living initiatives, youth programs and engagement, seniors and Lifelong Care, employment and education readiness, cultural programming, and crisis intervention, as well as housing and homelessness initiatives.