Regina’s Awasiw Warming Place says it will be extending its hours for the winter starting Thursday in order to give Regina’s homeless population a place to stay warm during the winter.
On top of its regular hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., it will now also be open from 9 p.m. until 7 a.m. in order to give people a warm place to stay overnight.
The facility is able to do this because of an investment by the federal government into the Reaching Home program.
While the federal government never specified just how much more money has been put into the program, it did say funding for the program over the past three years has doubled to close to $5 million.
“As winter approaches in the prairies, we recognize the importance of providing safe, inclusive and reliable options to those in need of assistance in Regina,” said Ahmed Hussen, the federal minister of housing and diversity and inclusion.
“By supporting All Nations Hope Network, Indigenous people who are experiencing housing difficulties will be able to access life-saving warm spaces during the day and through cold winter nights.”
As a result of Awasiw extending its hours, the City of Regina will no longer need to provide the warming bus. The warming bus was intended to give Regina’s homeless population a place to stay overnight in order to avoid the frigid Regina temperatures.