A new homeless shelter will be built in Prince Albert, but a decision on where has yet to be made. (ID 39228213 © Monkey Business Images | Dreamstime.com)

By paNOW Staff

Imminent need

Council set to discuss possible location for homeless shelter on 15th Street

Dec 14, 2024 | 9:00 AM

Proponents of a homeless shelter will take another stab at trying to convince city council to approve a downtown location for the facility.

Back in October, former councillor Tara Lennox-Zepp made a motion for a public meeting regarding the zoning of a unit block on 15^th Street East for a shelter. The council agenda for Dec. 16 shows more than fifty letters pertaining to the proposed location were submitted to city hall with the majority of them expressing support for the zoning.

One of those letters is written by Lorraine Custer a woman from Pelican Narrows, who said she’s been homeless for two years and if it wasn’t for a shelter, she would have froze to death.

A letter from Vicki Stewart, executive director of Prince Albert Mobile Crisis Unit, Prince Albert Sexual Assault Centre said they often have clients coming to their door ‘looking for a place to go’ but there are only a few options including the YWCA which is not available to adult males.

“Typically, clients will need to go to Stepping Stones, which is a long walk in the cold from our office,” she wrote. “Transportation is a huge barrier for clients, so having as many supports in the downtown as possible is ideal.”

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Stewart and several others who wrote letters spoke about the downtown area already being home to many of the services these clients access, which makes it an ideal location for a permanent shelter.

“Having a shelter in the downtown, will not ‘bring’ the homeless population downtown – they are already there, accessing the services offered. But, with no shelter services, they are left wandering the streets,” the letter read.

Other proponents liked that the location on 15^th Street East, west of the rail yards, is ideal for several reasons, including proximity to public transit and not being in a residential area among other things.

A handful of letters opposing the location will also be presented to council on Monday night, including one from the Prince Albert Downtown Business Improvement District (PADBID). Executive director Rhonda Trusty said in her submission that there seems to be a belief system that 15^th Street is a viable location because of perceived programs that are offered downtown.

“We would like the public to be educated on this falsehood – because there is no programming or resources for the homeless in the downtown. PAGC – Urban Services, social services, Mac Mall and downtown pharmacies have no programming for the homeless. The Indian Metis Friendship Centre is a warming location but does not provide any programming for this demographic.”

She said downtown businesses have been coping with the impact of homelessness for many years and they’ve been struggling in their ability to earn a living.

In his letter, Mike Henry from Partners Furniture & Appliance on Central Avenue expressed concern about customers not feeling comfortable or safe with a homeless shelter nearby, potentially deterring foot traffic. He also questioned the impact on property values.

All of the letters will be presented to council during the motions portion of Monday’s meeting. Before any decisions can be made on a location, there needs to be a public hearing and three readings are required to re-zone property.

On Friday, Mayor Bill Powalinsky reiterated the importance of choosing a location for the permanent shelter.

Homeless Services Grant

Also on the city council agenda for Monday night is a letter from the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation advising that the city has been approved for a one-time grant of $150,000 to provide additional services for Prince Albert’s homeless community during the winter. The grant is conditional on the city using the funding to provide warm spaces for people experiencing homelessness, including access to warm space overnight. The city will determine how best to use the funds and will prepare a final report detailing how the grant was used.

Below is a copy of the Winter Resource List created by River Bank Development Corporation showing the location of available ‘warm up’ locations. A copy can also be found by clicking here.

A Winter Resource list showing warm-up options in Prince Albert. (citypa.ca)

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panews@pattisonmedia.com