Council approves improvements around upcoming Halifax Street shelter

Regina City Council approved a number of recommendations around the planned permanent emergency shelter on Halifax Street on Wednesday.

The measures include reallocating $200,000 fund meant for paving alleyways in the area towards a one-time grant that would compensate businesses within 100 metres of the shelter for potential financial loss.

The shelter is located at the former Eagles Club building and is expected to open in July.

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Compensating nearby business owners was a directive given to administration by the previous council when the shelter was initially approved, but the measure was temporarily removed by the new council to allow for further consultations.

Some of the measures approved on Wednesday include a one-time $200,000 grant for paving alleyways and directing city administration to provide enhanced support to groups like the Regina Street Team. (Daniel Reech/980 CJME)

From the moment when it became public that the city sought to purchase the Eagles Club to open a permanent shelter, many business owners and community members spoke out against the idea, expressing concerns about safety, vandalism and loss of business.

Some of the measures approved on Wednesday include a directive for city administration to provide enhanced incremental support to groups like the Regina Street Team, which helps provide immediate service to people facing homelessness, addiction and mental health issues downtown. The city will also expand the services of Regina’s debris team to the Heritage neighbourhood.

Although the main goal of the measures wasn’t to provide direct compensation, one of the recommendations did include a provision that allows administration to come up with eligibility parameters for issuing the grant to affected stakeholders located within 100 metres of the shelter.

The city will also negotiate a funding arrangement with the Heritage Community Association using some money from the federal government’s Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampment Initiative.

The improvements will be included in the 2026-27 city budget.

One of the recommendations required is the creation of a “good neighbour plan,” using the remaining funds from Community and Social Impact Regina Inc., a municipal corporation which was dissolved in February.

City administration was also directed to provide monthly updates to council about meetings of the Good Neighbourhood Steering Committee. Administration has also been directed to appoint a council liaison to attend committee meetings and provide a report to council one year after the shelter opens.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been amended to reflect the fact that $200,000 grant was reallocated from what was originally meant to pave alleyways.