The Battlefords homeless shelter is operated by Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs Inc. (File Photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By CKOM News/battlefordsNOW Staff

SHELTER FUNDING

Province provides funds to purchase emergency shelter for North Battleford

Sep 7, 2023 | 11:48 AM

A new property has been purchased to house an emergency shelter in North Battleford.

Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Social Services announced Wednesday that they will provide $219,000 to help the Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs (BATC) purchase property for its Miwasin Kikinaw shelter.

The shelter has been operating since 2021, and the ministry said the new property —on 102nd Avenue in North Battleford — will allow the shelter to continue providing support for the region’s homeless population well into the future.

“The province is pleased to provide funding to Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs for the purchase of its emergency shelter that will continue to provide support for individuals facing homelessness in the Battlefords area,” Social Services Minister Gene Makowsky said in a statement.

“Through the Miwasin Kikinaw project, BATC supports individuals who need more than a home to remain connected to their community.”

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It’s welcome news for the BATC and the City of North Battleford and Métis Nation Saskatchewan who have jointly operated the centre since 2021.

The Lighthouse Emergency Shelter program ended for the facility in 2021, but in Oct. 1 of that year the Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs Inc. (BATC) leased the former Lighthouse space and took over operations of the facility and the program.

Despite The Lighthouse going into receivership earlier this year, the BATC will still operate the shelter and received grant support from the City of North Battleford this past March.

Currently, the shelter can accommodate 27 people.

The shelter operates with the support of the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan, City of North Battleford, and provincial government.

Joan Bear, CEO of BATC, said this collaborative approach is essential for this important project.

“Addressing the needs of the most at-risk members of our community requires collective efforts from all walks of life,” Bear said in a statement. “In an effort to unite various services for the shelter, BATC took the initiative in May to establish a collaborative network involving multiple agencies.”

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