YWCA Regina and The Mustard Seed have been selected by the Saskatchewan government to operate new permanent emergency shelters in Regina and Saskatoon, respectively.
The plan to open the shelters was announced in October, when the province unveiled a $40.2-million homelessness plan.
Under the plan, 155 new supportive housing spaces and 120 new permanent emergency shelter spaces will be created over the next two years. The government also hopes to improve community safety and outreach responses, with the creation of 30 new complex-needs emergency shelter spaces to address those issues.
“The Ministry of Social Services supports vulnerable people in need of shelter by connecting them with community organizations that offer emergency shelter spaces,” Social Services Minister Gene Makowsky said in a media release issued Tuesday.
“I am pleased to announce plans to move forward with YWCA Regina and The Mustard Seed as service providers of new permanent emergency shelters spaces. These community-based organizations will help us move forward to improve outcomes for people experiencing homelessness and better support individuals who need more than a home to remain connected to housing.”
The YWCA and The Mustard Seed are to provide emergency shelter services and refer clients to programs and services provided by the government and other community agencies.
Locations for the two shelters have yet to be determined. The dates they’re to open also isn’t known at this time.