Emergency shelter building to get 2,000 sq. ft. addition before opening

Before Regina’s new emergency shelter opens its doors, the City of Regina plans to expand it.

A request for proposals issued in early January, looks for a contractor to complete renovations on the building at 1600 Halifax Street, including a 2,000 sq. ft. addition

The city says the addition would be a single-storey structure on the west side of the building designed to seamlessly match the existing building. It would bring the sleeping capacity up to the promised 55 people.

The lease for the current emergency shelter at The Nest ends in July, so former mayor Sandra Masters said in the fall the city would want the transition to the new shelter to happen that month.

The request emphasized the need for speed in the work, “time is of the essence,” saying the work needs to be done by July 10.

Renovations had previously been pegged at $3 million, while the land and building cost $2.6 million. Provincial and federal funding was expected to cover the capital costs, with the city covering operating expenses.

The purchase of the new shelter location on Halifax Street was approved in September after a months-long discussion around the City Council table.