(File Photo/meadowlakeNOW Staff)

By Jaryn Vecchio

In need of Funding

Meadow Lake’s temporary homeless shelter needing around $150K to open this winter

Sep 12, 2023 | 5:10 PM

A lot of funding is needed to ensure Meadow Lake’s new temporary homeless shelter can open this winter.

The city’s council met on Monday where they approved the building’s operating permit.

However, Bob Steeg, Chair of the Meadow Lake Homeplate Shelter Coalition Corp, which is set to operate the shelter, told meadowlakeNOW this won’t matter if they don’t get around $150,000.

“The shelter will not be open unless the funding comes through,” he said.

The non-profit has already received around $28,000, thanks to donations from the Legion, Co-op, and Innovation Federal Credit Union, though they need the additional funding to operate properly over a six-month period.

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The shelter has been in the works since late 2022. Since then, the Meadow Lake Homeplate Shelter Coalition Corp has received multiple donations to help set up the building.

This includes from Kirt Prete, the Dealer Principal of PineRidge Ford, who provided $20,000 and is renting out the building on First Street East for just $1 a year, as well as Al MacFarlane, the owner of Meadow Lake Properties, who provided $20,000 to help with renovations.

“The heart is there in the community; we just need the big one to get going,” said Steeg.

The fact they haven’t gotten the funding, despite there being a large need for the shelter, has been a bit frustrating for Steeg. He’s hoping someone steps up before something bad happens during the winter.

“I hate to say it, but someone will freeze to death and (that) will get someone’s attention.”

Steeg mentioned they’re looking at the City of Meadow Lake and Meadow Lake Tribal Council (MLTC) to step up. He added they’ve had talks but have not received any financial support.

The City of Meadow Lake states they have a meeting in the coming days to discuss the issue with the Homeplate Shelter Coalition Corp. Mayor Merlin Seymour explained they haven’t allocated any funding because they haven’t received a specific ask.

“We don’t just offer money; we have to have a request and then council will decide if (the City) is able to do it or not,” he said.

Meadow Lake’s council is also set to start up budget talks in October which could include funding for the shelter if it gets approval.

As for the MLTC, they explained they were supposed to have a talk with the non-profit, but it had to be postponed. They couldn’t say whether a new date had been chosen.

Meanwhile, it might be safe to say that the shelter is desperately needed for the winter.

Last winter, the non-profit Door of Hope operated an overnight warm-up program, however, it won’t be coming back.

“It’s something they’re not geared for, and the Board has flat-out said they’re not doing it this year,” said Steeg.

He added this is because it was mainly run by volunteers working 12-hour shifts.

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Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow