REGINA — The new permanent emergency shelter in Regina will open come July 28.
The space located at 1600 Halifax Street will offer 24/7 service, with upwards of 55 beds, three meals a day, case planning services, wrap-around supports and more.
This new permanent emergency shelter will replace the current temporary one at The Nest Healthcare Centre.
Natasha Kennedy, executive director of Regina/Treaty Status Indian Services Inc. (RS/STS), said providing a permanent solution can help the city deal with homelessness.
“Homelessness is ever-changing in our demographic,” she said. “We want to ensure that if we're creating shelters, [there is extensive planning] what those shelters would look like and how they best fit the city of Regina.”
Mayor Chad Bachynski said a permanent shelter showcases a level of human dignity.
“It shows that we care about those residents and that we have ongoing support going forward.”
Kennedy said people staying at the shelter won’t be given any time limits.
“We acknowledge that people are coming with us with very different challenges and are multi-barriered. So some people may be with us for a week. Some people may decide that they would like to go to treatment.”
Funding for the shelter was provided in part from $3 million via the Federal Transit and Housing fund, $1.1 million of capital funding from the Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampment Initiative and upwards of $3 million from the provincial government as a forgivable loan.
The total cost for the new shelter was roughly $6.8 million.
As for operations, the shelter will have 10 to 12 workers at any given time, along with community members.
Monthly operational costs are pegged at roughly $30,000, with $1 million from the city's budget covering the cost.”
There were concerns from local businesses surrounding the shelter about safety for customers, covering security costs, garbage, and more.
The city has been working for months on a Good Neighbourhood Plan (GNP).
The GNP “will ensure ongoing communication and coordination among partners and ensure a collaborative approach to addressing any issues that may arise in the neighbourhood,” per a report.
Part of this plan includes:
- Railway corridor fencing to reduce unauthorized access and improve safety.
- Road and alley lighting for increasing visibility and improved security.
- Peer-led street project pilot in partnership with the Heritage Community Association to provide outreach support and more.
- Debris clean up, increasing the level of service for debris pickup within the vicinity of the shelter.
- Introducing a pilot initiative focusing on overnight and weekend support, implementing organizations like the Regina Street Team (RST) to oversee this.
- Paving the alleyways to a one-time grant for stakeholders affected in 100 metres of the permanent emergency shelter for items like enhanced security.
Bachynski said developing the GNP won’t be a one-and-done type of deal.
“The expectation from all parties involved is that everybody will be consistently communicating to make sure that if challenges arise, we have a mechanism to handle that, and we'll work together on it.”
Those currently staying at the Nest will be transferred in the coming days to the new permanent emergency shelter.
As for plans to construct more shelters, Bachynski said conversations are ongoing.
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