Prince Albert's homeless population has doubled. No plans for a winter shelter have been confirmed by either the City or the Province. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW)

By Susan McNeil

Homelessness

Group worried city and province are stonewalling shelter option

Oct 7, 2022 | 11:07 AM

Some of the people who helped bring about The Mustard Seed’s application to open an overnight shelter for homeless people are worried about precious time being wasted by governments.

Cathy Lacy has been part of the group effort, and is starting to be frustrated by what she sees as possible stonewalling at City Hall and by the Ministry of Social Services.

“We feel as a street ministry, that it’s starting to feel like stonewalling,” said Lacy. “If we give them the benefit of the doubt, they’re not, but I don’t know how much longer we can hang on.”

As it stands, there is no overnight option for homeless people in Prince Albert other than the Women and Youth shelter operated by the YWCA.

PAGC operates the Moose Lodge to provide food and a place to warm-up during the daytime.

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The Mustard Seed, a faith-based organization that started in Calgary decades ago, applied to the city in August to operate a permanent overnight shelter that could accommodate 50 people.

They also told the city that they offer support services to help people leave the streets if they wish.

Council denied the initial request based on the chosen location on Central Avenue and said the business community preferred it to be a few blocks away.

Last month, Mustard Seed representatives put an alternative location in front of council, but a decision was further delayed because council had questions about finances.

For Lacy, time has run out and governments need to act immediately.

“Winter’s coming so we need this. We needed it last month,” she said.

Lacy and others have sent emails to all Prince Albert councilors and Lacy has also written a letter to the Minister of Social Services asking for immediate action along with a long-term plan.

“That was my message to Minister Makowsky, we need action. What we need is sustainability and that’s what Mustard Seed is based on,” she said.

So far, only Councilor Tony Head has expressed strong support for having The Mustard Seed open its doors in Prince Albert.

“I absolutely support The Mustard Seed. We need this in our community,” he said.

Mustard Seed has the capability and the experience to begin operations quickly, Lacy said.

She also pointed out that all of council had access to The Mustard Seed’s finances as part of their presentation months ago and failing that, the information is readily available on their website.

“The information is in and if there’s a councilor who doesn’t have it, it’s because they didn’t read the document,” she said.

Another six-page document has been prepared for the third effort, which Lacy said will be on the next council agenda in about a week.

In the two years that Reaching Out Street Ministry, which Lacy is part of, has been operating in Prince Albert, Lacy said four of the people who call the streets home have died.

“There has to be a paradigm shift where each and every one of those individuals on the street is seen as a person who belongs to God and that is our position in our ministry,” she said.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com