Saskatchewan gov’t providing more funding to emergency shelters

The Saskatchewan government is taking more steps to assist emergency shelters in the province as winter approaches.

On Tuesday, the government announced it would provide up to $1.7 million in additional funding in 2022-23 to hike the number of emergency shelter spaces in Saskatchewan by up to 15 per cent this winter, and to ease what it called “seasonal cost pressures” for community organizations.

The Ministry of Social Services is giving $800,000 to community partners to address those seasonal costs, and $900,000 to add up to 60 spaces in emergency shelters in Prince Albert, Saskatoon and Regina.

“The ministry is also continuing to collaborate with Indigenous and community partners and all levels of government to seek new approaches to better support individuals who need more than a home to remain connected to housing,” a media release added.

“The additional funding for emergency shelter provides more supports during the upcoming winter months, while work continues to seek longer-term actions to address chronic homelessness.”