Workers ‘frustrated’ after Regina council votes down permanent shelter site

Workers on the front lines helping those who are homeless are feeling frustrated after Regina city council voted down the site for a permanent emergency shelter on Wednesday.

Councillors narrowly voted down the purchase of land at 1420 and 1440 Albert Street — it passed 6-5. The motion from Ward 4 Coun. Lori Breciani instructed city administration to look elsewhere.

Maggie Redston Davies, the North Central Family Centre’s program director, said people will still need shelter, even if no site has been selected yet.

“It feels like we are just going in circles, and nothing is being decided, and nothing is being done,” Redston Davies said.

On Wednesday, Bresciani took issue with the shelter being on one of Regina’s busiest roads.

“Where’s the dignity and humility for those individuals?” she asked.

Redston Davies disagreed with Bresciani’s comments.

“It’s just a really gross feeling,” she said. “We see it every day where we work.

“It’s really hard on us to know that there are people out there that just don’t want to see it, and put the problem to the side and pretend like it will just go away.”

Kimberley Wenger, the family centre’s executive director, said the area city administration selected for the shelter made sense.

“I think the shelter is much needed,” she said. “I think the location made a lot of sense because it was right next to a new care facility that will be opening.”

The new Urgent Care Centre, about a block from what was the proposed site, is set to open in July.

Wenger said it’s urgent to get a shelter in place for the North Central area. She would like to see more spaces open somewhere before the winter months hit.

The city is currently supporting a temporary emergency shelter at the Nest Health Centre, run by RTSIS. The lease at the facility is set to expire in the summer of 2025.

Redston Davies said the need for a permanent emergency shelter is only growing with people trying to deal with high costs.

She said the colder months are the busiest time for people looking for shelter. She said at its height, the family centre will help around 30 people a day.

“It’s extremely challenging because a lot of times we are turning them away, we don’t have options for them,” Redston Davies said. “We are returning them to the street to face a cold night.”

She said it’s difficult to get people into shelters because there aren’t enough spaces or funds.

“People like us who are doing the work everyday, aren’t being given the credit to do the work that we are doing and show that we can make a difference,” Redston Davies said. “It’s just really frustrating.”

City administration has been searching for a permanent shelter space for three years. On Wednesday, city manager Niki Anderson said the Albert Street location was “as good as it’s going to get.”

Since January, over 35 properties have been reviewed by city administration.