The Waterbase Inn is located on waterfront property. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

development

Council to decide on new homeless shelter application

Mar 26, 2024 | 1:04 PM

A development permit application from Kikinahk Friendship Centre aims to convert the Waterbase Inn along the La Ronge Avenue to a homeless shelter.

That’s according to a document prepared by municipal administration ahead of tonight’s regular town council meeting. It states Kikinahk received funding from the federal government to purchase the property and that the applicant is requesting a change to the zoning bylaw to include the shelter as discretionary use is the C3 District.

“Shelter services are largely intended to provide people who lack access to a residence with temporary accommodation, especially during inclement weather. In communities where houselessness is predominant, a permanent shelter service that offers programs that include counselling, treatment, and other supports is often a more effective means to assist people with houselessness,” the document notes.

“The La Ronge region is home to a portion of the population dealing with houselessness and related issues such as mental health, alcohol/drug addiction, poverty, solicitation (panhandling), etc. Council has acknowledged these community challenges and identified poverty and community safety as strategic priorities. There is no ready cure for these issues, though a year-round, multi-service shelter service would help.”

The purchase would allow Kikinahk, which currently provides such services at another location along La Ronge Avenue, an opportunity to establish a year-round shelter with expanded amenities and services. The applicant believes the property is ideal for this purpose because it includes a kitchen, common areas, office space, and individual rooms for shelter users (unlike the current shelter facility).

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Administration has identified two main concerns with allowing the change to occur. Those are the location may not be as desirable compared to alternatives and the loss of a hotel will affect the number of units available to economic sectors such as tourism and construction.

“Aside from the suitability of a property or facility to accommodate the temporary shelter service, it is difficult to gauge the difference between one location over another,” the document states.

“Some may hold the view that a temporary shelter service hidden away on the north side of La Ronge Avenue is preferable to having it located in a more exposed location on the waterfront side of the downtown.”

At the regular meeting tonight, council will decide to either proceed with a first reading and the consultation process to consider a change to a bylaw and the development permit applications, or deny both.

larongeNOW reached out to Kikinahk’s executive director Ron Woytowich, who said he is unable to comment before a decision is made at the meeting.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com