Supervisor Lee-Wayne Nippi said it's only a matter of time before all 14 spaces are full. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

Extended Hours

Overnight shelter opens as cold temperatures set in

Nov 16, 2020 | 2:45 PM

Seven clients used the Extended Hours Program on the first night of operation Sunday.

Formerly located at Scattered Sites, the program is now operating out of Drifters Motel as a permanent space wasn’t found before the cold weather set in. Lee-Wayne Nippi is the supervisor of the program and he said there would have been nine clients last night, but two were turned away.

“It was pretty good, everyone was pretty quiet,” he said. “I had to turn away two people because of the new rules. They can’t show up drunk. I kind of felt bad about that, but we have to be firm on that.”

Nippi has been involved with the program for several years and he expects it won’t take long for all 14 available beds to fill up. He noted some of the homeless in La Ronge have been sleeping in a makeshift shelter in the bush within town limits.

In order to transport clients between the motel and Scattered Site, Kikinahk Friendship Centre purchased a 15-passenger van for approximately $47,000. Clients will be driven to the motel when the Extended Hours Program begins at 4 p.m. and they will be taken back to Scattered Site at around 8 a.m.

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“I have a cook there right now, so she cooks supper for them before they go and we have containers and they just use microwaves in their rooms,” Nippi said.

For those who use the service, Nippi explained clients are put in a room with one other person and there are no visitors allowed. He said currently there are seven full-time staff members with two workers on shift at all times.

With colder temperatures on the way, Nippi also wanted to remind residents to be considerate of clients. He said giving the homeless a warm drink would be a friendly gesture or just being nice is appreciated too.

The Extended Hours Program will remain open until the end of March.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno