The funding issues threatening the operation of the emergency homeless shelter operated by Battlefords Indian Métis Friendship Centre appear to be resolved.
The emergency homeless shelter had only enough funds to operate until Jan 31. However, the City of North Battleford has come up with a plan to keep the shelter running through March 31 through a combination of City and matching funds.
At a special meeting Thursday, the City unanimously passed a resolution to provide funding of up to $6,000 for the homeless shelter.
That would account for about half of the approximately $12,000 needed to keep the shelter running until March 31. However, during the meeting, Councillor Trent Houk told council Sen. Herb Sparrow was prepared to make a donation of up to $6,000 to match what city council could come up with.
The wording of the resolution also leaves the door open for members of the public to step up and donate funds. Members of council voiced encouragement to residents to make donations as a show of community support for a homeless shelter. If the public comes up with donations towards the shelter's operations the city might not have to be on the hook for the full $6,000.
Houk particularly pushed for the matching-fund plan at the special meeting.
He said the City had a plan ready to go that would have extended funding through the end of February, but Houk said he wanted to address the need to the end of March rather than revisit the issue again in February.
Houk told reporters he had discussions with members of the community and with Jackie Kennedy, executive director of the Friendship Centre, and the proposal of matching funds for $6,000 was brought forward.
He noted the need was there for the emergency shelter and added he didn't want to see people freezing to death in winter. The city had seen temperatures dip below - 30 C just one week before.
Council heard statistics that indicated 179 people had used the shelter between Dec. 11 and January 26, with a maximum of 16 accommodated on one of those nights.
The resolution for funding of up to $6, , moved by Councillor Don Buglas and seconded by Houk, carried by a 5-0 vote.
While the vote was unanimous, there was some unease expressed about council possibly encroaching in areas that other levels of government should be responsible for.
Councillor Ron Crush made clear he did not want the decision to be seen as "perpetuating expectations that ongoing funding would be available," saying he did not want to set a precedent where upper levels of government would download their responsibility to the City and relax their own responsibility. Councillor Grace Lang expressed similar unease, calling the funding a "band-aid" solution. For his part, Houk said he believes this funding was a one-time situation.
"I'm glad this was carried unanimously and that everyone was sitting on the same page here," said Houk,.
He also expressed hope that some of those who use the shelter now could be transitioned off the streets over the next two months.
Houk also urged other members of the public to come forward with donations to the centre to keep the shelter running and help offset the cost to the city. He said he would personally be making a $200 donation.
