With the winter weather beginning to settle in Saskatchewan, the residents of Camp Hope will soon not have to worry about spending their nights outside.
A temporary indoor facility will be made available next week for those needing shelter. The facility will be managed by the Regina Treaty Status Indian Services (RTSIS) after the City of Regina purchased the lease agreement for six months. The lease agreement will cost the City $16,000 a month for the six month period.
Executive Director of RTSIS Erica Beaudin says the search for a longer term indoor housing will continue. “Our longer term initiative is to get through the tough six months that are coming up because we live in Saskatchewan.” Beaudin added “During that time in the six months we’ll be working with individuals on a case by case basis in order to move them to appropriate and longer term housing so that they have homes as opposed to a place to sleep at night.”
The 40 bed unit will be located on the north side of Hamilton Street, and the necessities will be provided to the occupants according to Beaudin. There will be showers and meals provided, along with testing and vaccine clinics provided by the Saskatchewan Health Authority.
The indoor shelter will provide much needed privacy for the residents Beaudin says. “We also take the issue of privacy, dignity very seriously. These 40 units will be cubicles so there will be privacy for everybody who goes into the facility.”
Security will also be provided at the shelter.
With colder temperatures continuing this weekend, the City will be providing buses for the residents of Camp Hope to use overnight shelter.
The new indoor shelter will begin operations on Monday morning at 10 am.