'It's a calmer atmosphere': Saskatoon Tribal Council opens new emergency shelter
The Saskatoon Tribal Council's (STC) Wellness Centre has opened its doors in Fairhaven and is nearly at capacity.
The facility has 106 beds, and there are currently 97 people staying at shelter.
Mark, who would not disclose his last name, is staying at the Centre.
"It's beautifully laid out. We have everything we need," he said.
The new facility includes four rooms, one for men, women, families and overflow, with about 30 beds each. It also has two bathrooms for men and women, rooms providing entertainment, a dining area, laundry service and showers.
In total, more than 60 staff members work a 24-hour cycle, including a counsellor, a paramedic and 20 peacekeepers.
Relatives, as Chief Arcand refers to people using the facility, will be given a bin to secure their stuff.
"It's a bigger facility than downtown. It's a calmer atmosphere," said Chief Arcand.
"Safety is a priority. Security is a priority, but also feeding people".
For exits, the building uses a one-way in and one-way out system.
STC plans to expand the Fairhaven location to include more storage and office space for social services and renovate the pods to make them more individualized as soon as the spring.
DOWNTOWN LOCATION CLOSING
With one door opening, another is closing, as the STC's downtown location is set to shut down.
According to Chief Arcand, with its current funding, it can only be open from 10 p.m. to 10 a.m.
"We shouldn't be kicking people out during the day and then telling them to come back," said Arcand.
Arcand is calling on more funding for the downtown centre to help keep it functioning 24 hours a day.
"We need to feed people when they're in our facility. We need to take care of them."
Arcand says 20 people stayed at the location on Thursday night, while the Fairhaven location is almost at capacity.
"That's the question: where they're going to go? Because I think the whole system that they decide in regards to these warm-up shelters is wrong."
According to Arcand, the downtown facility is set to close on Sunday, December 4th.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Two killed after collision with truck on Hwy. 417 near Limoges, Ont.
Ontario Provincial Police say two people were killed after a car and a transport truck collided in the westbound lanes of Highway 417 near Limoges, Ont. on Tuesday afternoon.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Explosion at train station leads to discovery of stolen car on Montreal's South Shore: police
Police are investigating after a BMW exploded in the St-Lambert Exo train station parking lot on Montreal's South Shore.
The pros and cons of discussing mental health issues in the workplace
A group of lawyers has written what they call a groundbreaking book about how mental health is perceived in the legal profession.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.