'No one in our country needs to freeze to death or go homeless': Prince Albert groups search for shelter funding
Non-profit groups that work with Prince Albert’s homeless population are sounding alarm bells as government COVID-19 relief funding used for a winter shelter has stopped.
“For this winter, we really need every one to come together and work together to come up with a place to keep people out of the cold,” said River Bank Development Manager Brian Howell. “Otherwise we’re going to have a situation like back in 2012 where we’re going to have a number of deaths.”
During the COVID pandemic in 2020 - 2022, YWCA Prince Albert, Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC), River Bank, the Community Advisory Board on Homelessness and the Prince Albert Exhibition Association collaborated to fund and operate the Stepping Stones Cold Weather Shelter at the Prince Albert Exhibition Grounds.
Based on the previous two years expenses of the cold weather shelter $400,000 - $500,000 is needed to operate for six and half months from the fall until mid-April, YWCA Prince Albert CEO Donna Brooks said.
The groups have contacted all levels of government to find funding for a winter shelter but so far they have been unsuccessful.
Currently, Prince Albert doesn’t have a cold weather shelter for the homeless and no men’s shelter.
“We need to come together and find a long term sustainable solution for this,” said YWCA CEO Donna Brooks.
The groups are looking to find a building that could accommodate 50 beds, is zoned appropriately for a shelter and meets the fire and health and safety requirements.
Howell said the PA Exhibition Association has been a great partner, however, with the pandemic restrictions removed people can gather and many groups want to utilize the building again.
The groups say they are hopeful the province will recognize the need and provide funding for a winter shelter this season. The provincial government currently provides the majority of the funding for YWCA shelter services.
Howell said the need is greater than before. A point in time count of absolute homelessness went from 26 people on the street to 57, more than double the last count.
The groups are “case conferencing” and work together to help individuals with their personal barriers and get off the streets.
Summer proposals by the Mustard Seed to open a shelter were denied by the City of Prince Albert due to their proposed shelter locations downtown.
At present, the only overnight shelter in Prince Albert is a 24-hour shelter for women, children and youth operated by YWCA Prince Albert
PAGC operates a day time warming center in the Union Centre called the Moose Lodge. It provides meals and clothing to the homeless from Monday to Friday.
Some churches and faith groups also assist the homeless and hungry with meals held on certain days and times.
There are beds available at the Social Detox Center at the Victoria Union Hospital for those who are intoxicated.
The YWCA also operates Homeward Bound that finds housing for homeless people and provides them with support.
“A lot of our homeless populations that we are seeing, just isn’t ready for that (Homeward Bound program) but no one in our country needs to freeze to death or go homeless,” said Donna Brooks.
River Benk Development also works with several organizations and social services to find low-income housing for people in need.
“We are coming at this from all angles, we aren’t just saying build shelters. We recognize that reintegration into to the community and a return to normal type of life is the answer,” said Howell.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trudeau acknowledges charges in Nijjar killing, calls for commitment to democracy
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged the charges laid Friday in relation to the murder of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
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.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Princess Anne lays wreath at B.C. veteran's cemetery; receives 21-gun salute
Princess Anne paid tribute to veterans buried at a cemetery in British Columbia today, laying a wreath to honour the more than 2,500 military personnel and family members buried there.
Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in a three-horse photo finish
Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish, edging out Forever Young and Sierra Leone for the upset victory.
'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.
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.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.