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New N.B. homeless living facility up for approval at next council meeting

Mar 20, 2018 | 4:14 PM

A new construction project for long-term housing for up to eight homeless people has been proposed in North Battleford, with a second facility proposed for the future.

An open house was held last week for local area residents where the first building is being proposed. The locations being considered are 1132 and 1102, 98th St.

A decision should be made at this Monday’s council meeting towards a discretionary zoning amendment, which could officially give the project the green light.

The project is being developed in partnership with the Saskatchewan Housing Authority, the City of North Battleford and the Battleford’s Indian and Métis Friendship Centre, which will be running the facility once it is built.

Liana Clinton is the coordinator for the Battlefords Affordable Housing and Homelessness Committee. She said the biggest concern from local residents during the open house was safety, which she said won’t be a problem with this facility.

“The biggest thing that we will have in place is 24/7 on site supervision,” Clinton said. “There will be someone there at all times to ensure the tenants are safe and the building is safe. It is fully supported living. Tenants will have support in dealing with addictions and mental health concerns.”

Clinton said the person on site will be called a “navigator” and added once are residents were explained the role of the on-site supervision, it seemed to ease any concerns.

Clinton wanted to be clear the new building will not be an emergency shelter and reiterated it is long-term affordable housing for those who need it the most.

She said tenants will likely be chosen using a rating system called “housing first”, which the friendship centre and Lighthouse already use. The system looks to house people in need first and then provide access to support. The housing first rating system identifies which individuals are least likely to be accepted into other housing situations and prioritizes them.

According to Clinton, only those with no other options will be considered for tenancy.

“They may use the housing first process or considering the friendship centre’s intimate knowledge of the people struggling in the city the most, they may already have people in mind. The ultimate goal is to find the people with the highest needs who are the hardest to house.”

Clinton said the idea was conceived due to the city’s realization there are only a handful of people causing a majority of its petty crime, particularly downtown. She said these people are trying to feed their addiction problems.  

“If they’re put in a place where they’re being constantly supported it can relieve the situation. It gives them a place to be instead of constantly out panhandling. There will be recreational things for them to do along with programming. People who are ready for housing don’t need all that support. It is the people who are the hardest to house that have nothing there for them.”

Clinton said the facility currently being proposed will house eight people, but another application has been filed to created an additional building to house another 10 people.

According to Clinton, this project has been in the works for about three years. She put a proposal together to present to the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation who agreed to fund 70 per cent of the project.

Clinton then needed to find a group to fund the rest.

“I approach the [Battleford’s Indian Metis Freindship Centre] and asked if they wanted to take ownership of it. They obviously jumped all over it… they ended up applying to the Canadian Development Corporation, through the Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs, for the other 30 per cent of the funding and that was successful as well.”

Clinton said numerous attempts were made to purchase and renovate a building, all of which were unsuccessful. She added if council approves the rezoning, she hopes to get shovels in the ground this spring.

City administration has invited residents to attend this Monday’s council meeting. Anyone looking to address comments or concerns to the planning and development team with the city has until the end of the business day on Monday, Mar. 26.

 

greg.higgins@jpbg.ca

On Twitter @realgreghiggins