Achi news desk-
The Saskatchewan government allocated $3.45 million in last week’s provincial budget announcement for safety measures at emergency shelters in Regina and Saskatoon.
The funding announcement comes just after Regina residents began voicing concerns about a new complex needs crisis shelter slated for the city.
The shelter is part of an 18-month pilot project, but city residents are concerned about the location of the facility.
Current plans have located the shelter in the McNab Regina community. The shelter would be next to the Orr Day Care center, Luther High School and a seniors complex.
The shelter will provide a place for homeless people with mental health and addiction problems. The shelter will also be a place for police to bring people arrested for public drunkenness, where they will be held for up to 24 hours.
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The 2024-25 provincial budget announced the Ministry of Social Services will provide $3.45 million to third-party services to help keep communities safe. No details have been released.
The residents of Regina Ward 8 voiced their concerns in a meeting with her councillor, saying they were worried about the future of the neighbourhood.
Ward 8 Cllr. Shanon Zachidniak told Global News on Monday that there are still unresolved questions about how the new security will work in conjunction with Regina police.
“It’s an important investment, but I think how it’s going to work is still undecided,” Zachidniak said.
At a community meeting earlier this month, Regina resident Barb Shields said she was concerned drug paraphernalia could end up near the daycare.
“With a day care facility there, it does concern me that people could be throwing a needle over the fence or other things,” Shields said.
“And does that leave the daycare having to check the property every morning? No one wants a child to come into contact with something like that, especially in their day care.”
Saskatoon has been dealing with similar concerns from city residents since opening an emergency shelter in a residential neighborhood in 2022.
The Crisis Wellbeing Center located in the Fairhaven neighborhood has been criticized and blamed for the increase in crime rates in the area.
“It really shook up the neighborhood,” said Ward 3 Saskatoon city councilor David Kirton. “If there were people with complex needs creating problems within the shelter, they were pushed out but without any plan once they were released so they ended up in the neighbourhood.”
Saskatoon Tribal Council chief Mark Arcand closed the doors of the wellness center for individuals with complex needs in October 2023.
“I’m hopeful that that has created a little bit of a better situation in Fairhaven, but it’s not perfect yet,” Kirton said.
He said it’s important for shelters to have plans on how to safely release shelter users who may be impaired, without negatively impacting the surrounding homes.
Zachidniak said a meeting was scheduled for Tuesday between Regina city officials and the shelter action group.
— with files from Andrew Benson of Global News.
& copy 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
