REGINA - The issue of where a potential permanent homeless shelter will go in Regina will return to city council later this month.
Mayor Sandra Masters told reporters Thursday that a report from administration with a proposal on a new permanent shelter location will come to Executive Committee on Sept. 18.
If that is approved at that meeting, it would go to council Sept. 25 for final approval. Mayor Masters said they also will continue to collaborate with the province relating to "locking this down and making sure these facilities are in place."
Masters expressed confidence a permanent shelter location will get approved after a previous proposed permanent shelter at 1420 and 1440 Albert Street was voted down at a June 12 council meeting.
“Oh, very likely. I’m feeling very confident about this,” said Masters. “We’ve got some good alternate locations.”
Masters did acknowledge there are building code upgrades that would be needed, but there is time for those to take place. Right now, there is a temporary shelter in operation at The Nest in downtown Regina, with the lease at that location extended until July 31 of next year.
“So we have a number of months to make sure we’re building up to code, they’re fire safe, they’re accessible and they have that commercial kitchen that’s required in all of our shelters.”
As for this winter, Masters said that there will be shelters available including The Nest, as well as a YWCA women’s shelter and others in the city. The mayor acknowledged that one challenge is convincing those needing shelter to accept that option.
“In terms of space requirements, we can’t force anybody into shelters so sometimes it’s a hard thing to measure in terms of that demand,” Masters said.
Masters said what they were looking for is to make sure those organizations are supported, and she also wanted to see more supportive housing units. Masters noted that 44 supportive housing units have been added the last two years.
“Shelter is not the goal. The goal is supportive housing and independent living, that’s the goal."
The issue of a permanent shelter had been a hot one at City Hall in recent months.
Council previously considered a proposal for a permanent shelter on Albert Street at a marathon council meeting at City Hall on June 12.
The proposed location proved controversial, with several delegations from the neighbourhood voicing opposition. Opponents cited concerns about potential crime as well as negative impacts to property values.
Council’s eventual decision to defeat that shelter proposal, by a 6-5 vote, also proved controversial. Councillor Andrew Stevens voiced his dismay afterwards, as he was quoted telling reporters that “we look collectively like a bunch of morons.”
Stevens and four other council members who supported the permanent shelter had presented a motion to reconsider at the August council meeting.
Instead of going ahead, that motion was tabled after council was informed by administration that a report would come back on an alternative option at their Sept. 18 Executive Committee meeting.
