Re-Zoning Approved!

The Salvation Army got approval from Saskatoon’s City Council tonight to rezone 341 Avenue T South to zoning that allow a short term emergency women’s shelter to be opened there.  This is a significant step for the Centre’s goals of having a safe place for women and children to go to when they are in crisis.

Thanks to all of the staff, officers, our realtor, city councilors, city employees, the Homelessness Partnering Strategy, and our architect Ken Wilson for getting us this far.  After we get our building permits, we hope to be open by the time winter hits in 2009.  If you have any questions, feel free to contact Captain Rhonda Smith at rhonda_smith@can.salvationarmy.org or the Residential Coordinator, Jordon Cooper jordon.cooper@salvationarmysaskatoon.org.  Both can be reached via phone at 306.244.6833.

Women's Shelter Re-Zoning Meeting

On June 16th, the Salvation Army, the City of Saskatoon, and the citizens of Pleasant Hill got together to discuss our desire for a zoning change to allow us to purchase and open an emergency shelter for women and children who are homeless in Saskatoon.

Along the way, there was a mis-communication between the City and Pleasant Hill School and the school was locked when everyone got there. Luckily it was a perfect evening to sit outside and talk so instead of using the school's auditorium, we used the front lawn.  The result was we all got to enjoy the late spring weather and no one can accuse us of meeting behind closed doors!

If you missed the meeting or have any questions about the project, please don't hesitate to contact Captain Rhonda Smith at the Centre via phone (242.6833), e-mail, or in drop by in person.

Government of Canada Announces $450,000 in support for the Emergency Women’s Shelter in Saskatoon

The Government of Canada announced a $450,000 contribution through the Homelessness Partnering Strategy for the Salvation Army Community Centre to open a women’s shelter on Friday.

Canada’s Government is helping families and individuals in Saskatchewan break free from the cycles of homelessness and poverty and build a stronger future for themselves.

Mr. Ed Komarnicki, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour and Member of Parliament for Souris–Moose Mountain, today announced investments in 12 projects in Saskatchewan under the Government’s Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS).

“Our government is delivering on our commitment to help those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. We are proud to support community efforts that help find local solutions to local issues,” said Mr. Komarnicki, who made the announcement on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. “By investing over $1.7 million in these 12 projects across Saskatchewan, we are supporting community efforts to help those in need.”

The announcement took place at the Salvation Army Community Centre in Saskatoon, a shelter, food provider and drop-in centre. The organization is receiving HPS funding to help create 42 emergency shelter beds and six temporary cots for women and children. Individuals will benefit by having a safe place to live in which they can access support services and transition out of homelessness.

“The Salvation Army Women’s Shelter will provide a safe and supportive environment for women and children in times of crisis, empowering women to take the necessary steps to obtain safe, secure and long-term stable housing for themselves and their families,” said Captain Rhonda Smith, Executive Director of the Salvation Army Community Centre.

The Homelessness Partnering Strategy provides funds over two years to help communities across Canada combat homelessness. The HPS recognizes that housing stability is essential to self-sufficiency and full participation in Canadian society. The Strategy focuses on transitional and supportive housing as important measures to help people overcome homelessness. With its clear goals of improved partnerships, enhanced sustainability and tangible results, HPS will provide concrete, meaningful and lasting results for Canadians in need.

“Our government is investing more in affordable and supportive housing than any other federal government in Canada’s history and, as a result, we are helping tens of thousands of Canadians who are especially vulnerable in the current economic environment,” said Mr. Komarnicki.

The link between homelessness and mental illness is well established. In 2007, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the first-ever Mental Health Commission of Canada. In Budget 2008, the Government committed $110 million for the Commission to develop new, innovative demonstration projects to help Canadians facing mental health and homelessness.

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Community Meeting on October 22nd, 2008

Over the last eight months, the Salvation Army Community Centre has been hard at work trying to start a women's homeless shelter in Saskatoon. For many years our Emergency After Hours workers have been fielding calls from women and children at risk after the Ministry of Social Services closes at night. Sometimes people just need to talk, other times they need an emergency food hamper to get them through a tough time or even some diapers. An increasing amount of phone calls have to do with women and families needing emergency shelter. In 2007 we used 1141 hotel rooms to house women and children and in 2008 there has been an even greater demand.

Since late 2006, Saskatoon has seen a large economic expansion with a lot of new jobs and new growth. This has both driven up rents and driven down occupancy. The end result is that more people need emergency housing, especially during the winter months. The current long-term shelter, the YWCA has been full for the last couple of years and has to refer hundreds and hundreds of people to us. Other more situation specific shelters have experienced the same kind of increase in occupancy. Until early 2007 we were able to manage by using those shelters and hotel rooms in emergencies. This works many nights but anytime there is a concert, a major convention, hockey tournaments, or an increase in seasonal tourism traffic, we often find that there is no available hotel rooms within the city or surrounding areas.

To help provide a better solution than hotel rooms, with the help of the Government of Canada and the Ministry of Social Services, the Salvation Army has placed a conditional offer on a large house on the corner of Avenue D and 34th Street that would be able to hold 12 families comfortably for short term stays (generally a couple of nights). Clients would have their own room and there would be two full time security/caseworkers on duty 24/7/365 to assist both the clients and to ensure the neighborhood is safe

The offer is conditional on having the zoning changed which is why we are inviting you to a community meeting to talk with us about this. Anyone is invited and we would love to hear your feedback.

The meeting is October 22nd, 2008 at Mayfair Library from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. If you can't make it and would like to talk more about this project, e-mail me at jordon.cooper@salvationarmysaskatoon.org or give me a call at 242.6833. I live in Mayfair as well, (just down the block from where the shelter will be), and have two young boys. Like everyone in the neighborhood I have a vested interested that the shelter is both a safe place for our clients but also a wonderful addition for the neighborhood!