NORTH BATTLEFORD ‑ North Battleford council has approved funding for the Miwasin Kikinaw homeless shelter operated by Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs.
At their meeting Monday, council authorized the recommendation of the Community Development Financial Assistance Program Committee to provide grant funding of $25,000 to Miwasin Kikinaw for 2022. As well, a further $12,500 in unspent 2021 grant funding was also approved for payment to Miwasin Kikinaw.
The $12,500 was the amount that was previously approved to go to The Lighthouse Serving the Battlefords in 2021 for the shelter operations. But that amount had not been paid out, mainly because The Lighthouse ceased running the shelter late in the year.
The Lighthouse Serving the Battlefords operated the homeless shelter at the 102nd Street location until the beginning of October, 2021. Since then, Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs has assumed operations at that location under the name Miwasin Kikinaw, leasing the existing space from The Lighthouse.
"The services previously provided by The Lighthouse and now Miwasin Kikinaw are absolutely critical to North Battleford and surrounding communities," said Finance Director Brent Nadon at council Monday.
The vote at council to authorize the funding was unanimous.
