Regina temporary emergency wellness centre gets more support from province

Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Social Services is providing more support to a temporary emergency wellness centre in Regina.

In a media release Tuesday, the ministry said it was investing another $665,000 in The Gathering Place: New Beginnings, a 40-bed emergency wellness centre operated by Regina Treaty and Status Indian Services (RT/SIS).

The money will allow RT/SIS to operate the centre for another five months while work continues to identify longer-term solutions to Regina’s homelessness situation.

“The Gathering Place: New Beginnings has been an incredible resource for people without housing during the winter months, and although the weather is slowly getting warmer, we still see a need for additional emergency wellness centre spaces in Regina,” Social Services Minister Gene Makowsky said in the release.

“We are proud to provide this additional funding to our partners at RT/SIS, which allows them to continue offering their valuable supports and services to people in need.”

The wellness centre opened in January after the Government of Saskatchewan, RT/SIS and the City of Regina collaborated on the temporary solution.

“The City of Regina is grateful for the province’s ongoing investment in helping us support folks experiencing houselessness in our community,” Regina Mayor Sandra Masters said in the release. “We are pleased that RT/SIS will be able to continue their valued work in providing supports to residents in need as we work to determine a location for a new permanent emergency shelter.”

The Gathering Place: New Beginnings operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week and provides three daily meals to those who access the centre. On-site staff also offer support programs and help clients connect to other services.

“RT/SIS is committed to providing client-focused programs and services these individuals require to move forward not only with sustainable housing but with their overall well-being,” RT/SIS executive director Erica Beaudin said.

“This commitment is heart work for our staff and organization. We are pleased to continue our partnership with our provincial partners and all others we work with to continue to create homes for our most vulnerable as they move along to living independently.”

Last November, the provincial government put up $1.7 million for emergency shelter spaces across the province. Since then, 83 temporary emergency shelter spaces – including the 40 at The Gathering Place: New Beginnings – have been created in Saskatchewan.