North Central identified as location for proposed permanent emergency shelter

The location of Regina’s proposed permanent emergency shelter was revealed on Friday afternoon.

According to the agenda for next week’s city council meeting, the location is at 1420 Albert Street and 1440 Albert Street.

The matter will go to council for approval on June 12.

The project will cost $7.5 million and council is slated to discuss borrowing $3 million from the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation to help cover it. The project would also receive $3 million from the federal government — leaving the city to pay the remaining $1.5 million.

Council is set to decide on approving the allocation of $1.5 million in additional capital funding from the Social Development Reserve.

City staff have previously told council that the property is roughly 20,000 square feet while the building itself is roughly 10,000 square feet. 

The proposed facility would house 50 people — a similar amount to that of the city’s current temporary shelter at the Nest Health Centre which is in the old YMCA building on 13th Avenue.

The city’s lease with the Nest Centre is set to expire in summer 2025. It has 55 beds.

It was established “based on an increased need to alleviate pressures on existing shelter spaces, and ultimately support vulnerable individuals who are experiencing houselessness in Regina” according to a public report by the city.