275/277 Furby is the scene of a student housing project for University of Winnipeg students. The apartment block houses mainly single parents with young children. The attached house is a female dorm house with individual rooms for single students and newcomers. It has a common living and kitchen area with a live-in Resident Assistant. The apartment was built in 1925, while the city records indicate the house is 110 years old. Both buildings are brick, with a solid foundation. However, they needed new wiring, plumbing, insulation and heating system.
The project used members from the Urban Green Team. It is a Province of Manitoba youth employment project for people aged 16 to 24. Because their wages are subsidized, it makes it possible to hire and train youth to work on these projects. In addition to teaching job skills, it generates employment for local residents.
There is a great demand for affordable student housing in the area. Many of the students are foreign and continue their studies year round. More than 100 students live in the area, but most of what is available is substandard housing.
