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By meadowlakeNOW staff

MUNICIPAL MATTERS

Full-year approval granted for Meadow Lake homeless shelter with mixed feedback

Oct 16, 2025 | 2:12 PM

The City of Meadow Lake has approved a full-year operating permit for the Home Plate Shelter at 215 1st Street East, allowing the community’s only emergency shelter to continue operating through next year.

Council voted earlier this month to extend the temporary emergency shelter’s permit beginning Oct. 16. Once a pending zoning amendment takes effect, the permit will remain valid until Oct. 15, 2026, changing renewals from six months to a yearly cycle.

A city report said the shelter’s continued operation “appears to have proven the shelter’s value, not just to the individuals who directly benefit, but to the wider community,” noting it aligns with council’s strategic goal of improving community safety.

The facility, operated by the Home Plate Shelter Coalition Corp. with support from Meadow Lake Outreach Ministries, provides a safe refuge for people experiencing homelessness and helps reduce makeshift encampments and strain on local policing and emergency services.

Notices were mailed to property owners within 75 metres of the site ahead of council’s decision. The city received both supportive and critical submissions.

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In a letter of support, resident Holly Wassing urged council to recognize housing as a basic human right.

“Canada’s National Housing Strategy Action recognizes housing as a fundamental human right. Housing is essential to the inherent dignity and well-being of the person,” she wrote.

“Seeing unhoused individuals around town reminds me every day how fortunate I have been not to have had to deal with any of the factors leading to homelessness… I do champion organizations that provide support for the unhoused population.”

But Kimberly Bundschuh, who lives across the street from the shelter, said in her email that nearby residents have faced vandalism, trespassing and disorderly behaviour.

“In the last five years that we have owned the property we have had graffiti on our shop walls, broken windows, people entering our yard site, going through the garbage and recycling bins (leaving a huge mess for us to clean up) as well as inebriated individuals passed out across the street on the church ramp and lawn at the shelter.”

“We do know we have a need for a shelter, just wish it wasn’t right next to us,” Bundschuh added.

Delton Sylvain, who manages the Home Plate Shelter Coalition Corp., said he understands those concerns but hopes residents consider the broader need.

“I think it is very easy for someone that has a warm place, good, working friends and food guaranteed to have those types of concerns,” he said.

“Because to me, it’s not just about presenting the problem, but perhaps, presenting some solutions on how we can help our homeless people and the neediest people in our neighborhood.”

Sylvain said the new permit brings stability for the program after years of short-term extensions.

“It’s awesome because we don’t have to be fighting for extension, and now we know that the city understands the necessity that we have in Meadow Lake for having a safe place for our fellows.”

Administration says it will continue to work with the shelter operator and monitor its operations as the extended permit takes effect.

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cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.com