By Angela Brown

Rooming house project moving ahead despite some opposition

Mar 28, 2018 | 5:00 PM

A proposal for a rooming house in North Battleford received council’s approval at North Battleford City Hall Monday, despite some opposition from the public.

Council voted unanimously for the project to allow a rooming house to be developed at 1132 – 98 Street..

They formally approved a discretionary land use application to develop multi-unit dwellings, described as a rooming house, at 1102 and 1132 – 98 Street. The city waived a discretionary land use fee of $500, and provided the lots to the Battlefords Indian and Métis Friendship Centre for $1 to construct and operate the rooming house. 

Mayor Ryan Bater pointed out it is not a city project, but rather it is being led by the Battlefords Indian and Métis Friendship Centre, with support from the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation. Funding for the project is being funded by the provincial government – through the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation; as well as by the Community Development Corporation under the umbrella of the Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs; and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

“Our role was to allow the project to take place in this neighbourhood, and to provide the land,” Bater said. “It happened to be city-owned land.”

Trades in Sask.

Skilled trades need not limited to building homes

5h ago

Battlefords Volleyball Club

13U BVC Impact take provincial silver in Warman

9h ago

Spirit Group

Battleford Community Spirit Group needs members to stay open

10h ago

“It will fill a social need in the community,” added the mayor. “Council obviously feels the same by supporting the project. This is an example of different entities within the community identifying the need and taking action to fill it.”

The project will provide a home for up to eight homeless individuals. 

Liana Clinton, chair of the Battlefords Battlefords Affordable Housing and Homelessness Committee, said in her letter to the city the project aims to provide long-term housing and support to “help break the cycle of homelessness.”  

There was some opposition from the public to the project as discussed at council’s meeting. The city received a petition signed by a total of 42 households. From that amount ,17 were in the immediate area of the rooming house, and the rest were from outside the area. The petition said: “By signing this petition, I am in opposition to the rooming house at 1132 – 98th Street.”

The mayor said city administration has answered questions addressed in the letter and will be sending a letter of response.

In response to the resident’s concerns, the mayor said the facility will have “24-hour, seven-day-a-week supervision” and will have what are known as “navigators” on-site to provide the necessary support to the rooming house residents.

Bater added the project will “enhance safety in the community” overall.

“There is on-site support for the up to eight people who will be calling that place their home. Council seems satisfied that the safety concerns are being addressed,” said Bater.

“It’s an important project for our community,” added the mayor. “This has been something the proponents have been working on for quite some time. The city has been a partner in that.”

Admininstration also responded to written concerns some residents raised at the March 14 open house when the project was introduced.

Some of the concerns from residents included the location of the rooming house. City administration in response said in its report the location was identified because it was close to the downtown, and also has a low crime rate. The city also didn’t anticipate any issues with the location since there would be many supports in place for the project and its residents.   

City manager Jim Puffalt said the organizers hope to have the rooming house open by the end of the year.

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW