Métis Nation-Saskatchewan funds struggling Battlefords Lighthouse emergency shelter

By battlefordsNOW staff

Métis Nation-Saskatchewan (MN-S) announced Friday it is stepping up to provide funding to the North Battleford Lighthouse Supported Living emergency shelter that serves the Battlefords area.

The Lighthouse Supported Living announced last week the organization can no longer operate an emergency shelter program at the Battlefords location due to substantial funding changes. The facility was initially scheduled to close April 1.

However, according to the release from MN-S, the new funding will ensure the facility can remain open and vulnerable homeless individuals have access to the shelter during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The homeless are the most susceptible when it comes to COVID-19 and with no other apparent homeless shelters in the Battlefords region, MN–S will take up the challenge and fund the 37- bed facility,” MN-S Housing Minister Ryan Carriere said in the statement.

MN-S indicated discussions are also proceeding to find “a path toward more substantial, community funding partners that could see a shelter operate indefinitely.”

“MN-S recognizes the need for housing often becomes entangled in bureaucracy at the expense of those most at risk. MN–S sees the urgent need for these citizens within the Battlefords region and will utilize emergency COVID money to ensure they don’t fall through the cracks, especially at a time like this,” MN–S Housing Director Christena Konrad said.

MN-S stated while the funding to North Battleford Lighthouse Supported Living will make sure homeless individuals have access to a shelter, MN-S has also entered into discussions with the Battlefords Agency Tribal Council (BATC) to look at ways to address the issue of homelessness.

The release indicated the discussions will aim to establish sustainable partnerships within the community “to create holistic homelessness responses and supports to serve the Battlefords region.”