Province says ‘month-to-month’ lease continues with STC for wellness centre

Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Social Services says an operating agreement with the Saskatoon Tribal Council to operate a 106-space shelter has been extended until June 30.

The statement, which was sent to 650 CKOM, said the Government of Saskatchewan is continuing to work with the Saskatoon Tribal Council to offer shelter spaces, services and supports.

“The lease agreement with the Saskatoon Tribal Council for the facility that houses the Wellness Centre continues on a month-to-month basis,” it read.

On Friday, STC Tribal Chief Mark Arcand told reporters the STC had signed another one-year lease.

“Last year it was $4.2 million for 11 months to operate the facility for all of our fixed costs (and) everything else. Now it’s 12 months for $4.2 (million), so yeah, we’ve actually lost a little bit of funding. But I’ll be working to increase that, just because I think of the need,” he said.

The statement from the province also indicated that the current space count at the EWC could either be extended or reduced as the ministry works to develop smaller emergency shelters in Saskatoon.

Arcand said overall, data from a recent report on crime statistics by the Saskatoon Police Service and the Saskatoon Fire Department showed outcomes and results, proving that the STC model is working, and that crime isn’t a just neighbourhood problem, it’s a city problem.

That was in response to comments made by people who say the report didn’t capture the experiences of residents of the neighbourhoods near the wellness centre.