The issue of whether to set up a homeless shelter at Reclaim Outreach Centre has not been settled yet by North Battleford city council.
Councillors at Monday night's meeting were not ready yet to make a decision regarding a discretionary land use application made by the outreach centre to establish a shelter at their location on 962 - 102nd Street.
Several councillors said they still had some questions about the proposed facility and wanted another meeting with everyone behind the proposal to get some more answers before moving forward with any decision to approve the application.
While nothing was decided at the meeting Monday, it does appear council wants to move ahead with some sort of homeless shelter proposal in the coming months as part of a comprehensive approach to the whole issue in the city.
Mayor Ian Hamilton said it was his understanding councillors "want to have more dialogue with proponents of the (Reclaim Outreach) proposal to get more information with respect to the extent of the community involvement, the business plan, if you will, for the project, what is the sustainable outcome of this proposal."
His direction to city administration is to convene all the parties involved that have expressed interest in a proposal will address not only homeless issues but poverty issues as well.
"Council are looking for a very comprehensive proposal that will address as many needs as we can possibly undertake at the same time," said Hamilton.
Reclaim Outreach Centre's proposal for an emergency homeless centre initially came up at council's previous meeting June 13.
After that meeting, Pastor Leonard Beaucage of Reclaim Outreach Centre sent a letter to council indicating he and Don Toovey had visited the business owners around his buildings who had expressed concerns about the proposal before. In his letter he stated that he had good discussion with them and while there were still concerns, they "indicated they do like what we are doing."
Several letters of support were filed with the City. They includes letters from local businesses as well as from Mayor Chris Odishaw of Battleford, Jane Zielke of Battlefords United Way and Donna Weber, manager of service delivery, income assistance and disability services, at the provincial Ministry of Social Services.
Both Toovey and Beaucage were at Monday night's meeting, as were other supporters of Reclaim Outreach Centre.
Council received the correspondence at Monday's meeting. However, no motion was put to the floor to approve the homeless shelter application, which means a decision on that issue will wait for another day.
As for the pending discussions with Reclaim Outreach Centre and other interested groups, Hamilton told reporters it was also his understanding that council wanted those meetings on the homeless shelter proposal set up "soon" and not to wait until the fall.
It is possible the homeless shelter issue could be back before council for more discussion or perhaps a final decision at their next meeting, which will not be until July 25.
