Scattered Site is seeking donations of food, personal hygiene products, and disposable cups and bowls. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

Homelessness

La Ronge’s Extended Hours Program facing ‘extreme staff shortages’

Mar 26, 2020 | 2:32 PM

With a number of employees opting to stay home, the Extended Hours Program (EHP) at Scattered Site is struggling to retain workers.

“We are dealing with extreme staff shortages right now because folks are scared,” said Tina Johnson, who has been the manager of the program for three days. “We’re not forcing anybody to work if they don’t want to. We’re running on an absolute bare skeleton crew right now.”

The EHP is located in La Ronge and provides an overnight shelter for individuals who have nowhere else to go. It usually only operates between the beginning of November to the end of March, but Johnson noted funding has been extended until at least April 30. In recent weeks, the number of people utilizing the program has dipped considerably from an average of 10 to 14 per night to four to 10.

Johnson explained the EHP starts every night at 8 p.m., adding the doors are locked between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. In the last couple of days, staff have given clients access to Netflix as entertainment, but Johnson said they tend to fall asleep not long after arriving.

“The biggest fear our folks have right now is we’re going to have to close our doors and they will have absolutely nowhere to go,” she said.

Freedom and Flexibility

How App-Based Work Creates Economic Opportunity

Dec 12, 2025

Riderville

Now for the Hard Part

Dec 10, 2025

Seniors Scene

Christmas is Coming

Dec 09, 2025

During the day, Jackie Ballantyne manages the Scattered Site day program and she noted the hours of operation have changed drastically. Clients are served three meals per day and only weeks ago would be allowed to stay and visit. Now, a short time period is allocated for meals before people are asked to leave so the building can be sanitized.

Ballantyne mentioned the number of people using both programs have dropped with 17 breakfasts and 27 lunches served on Thursday.

“We’ve made arrangements with some of our people who have people willing to take them to get back to their communities before they get shut down,” she said. “Frankly, people are really scared. A lot of our folks have compromised immune systems and this would kill them if they contracted it.”

Scattered Site is also running low on various items and is appealing to the public for help. The organization is seeking donations of food, personal hygiene products, and disposable cups and bowls.

–

derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno