Lease negotiations continue for temporary homeless shelter, no firm date for availability

The City of Regina is negotiating a lease for a building that it plans to use as a temporary homeless shelter for those living in Pepsi Park.

Mayor Sandra Masters said as the city is also working with multiple groups on “operationalizing” the facility, there’s no hard date for when it will be ready.

“I can’t tell you today at 5 (p.m.). I can’t tell you tomorrow at 5. So as soon as physically possible,” Masters said after the city’s executive committee met Wednesday.

While the city’s options have narrowed, the mayor said it’s not as simple as putting a roof over people’s heads, that clients will have diverse backgrounds and varying needs.

“You have male, female, you have LGBTQ, you have children, families, elderly, disabled. And in terms of creating a priority list, (we’re all about) ensuring that we’re servicing the needs and can meet the needs of those folks when we take them inside,” she said.

The heightened need for a temporary shelter has materialized in response to Camp Marjorie, a growing tent city in Pepsi Park that has been set up for unhoused people.

Those close to the encampment have been hopeful an indoor facility would be available soon.

Masters said the city’s task force created to monitor the situation has been in constant contact with people at the camp and conducting wellness checks. She herself recently paid a trip.

“The volunteers are lovely, as are the residents of the camp. And (we) just engaged in some good conversation around what they’re experiencing, what some of the challenges are and just their hopes for having an inside space soon,” she said.

While the city does not endorse the encampment, Masters has spoken about its obligation to keep the residents safe. As the temperature dropped to -7 C on Tuesday night, the city sent a bus so residents could warm up.

The camp is considered temporary and must transition indoors.

“A tent is … not in any kind of long-term solution and no one should think it’s an acceptable way to live,” Masters said. “And so trying to transition folks and deal with the complex social issues that are the root causes of homelessness will require ongoing efforts and support.”

From the temporary shelter, short- and long-term housing solutions would be found for clients.

“At the end of the day, we have vacant houses. We have social support services in place,” Masters said.

“We have a community-based organization in (Regina Treaty Status Indian Services) that is looking to take the lead to connect folks from being without a house into a home.”