Warming spaces in Regina: provincial funding increased for homelessness strategy

The provincial government announced on Wednesday,  it’s upping its funding to one of the most pervasive problems in the provinces – homelessness.

It’s adding $20 million in funding over three years to its provincial approach to homelessness (PATH) program, on top of the more than $40 million announced in 2023. 

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According to Social Services Minister Terry Jenson, the new money will put $12 million into community-led initiatives, $4 million for up to 40 new shelter spaces, and $4 million for up to 60 new supportive housing spaces as well as more access to trusteeship services.

Jenson said the original funding was used to identify and stand up services and capital in the first two years of the program.

“This additional funding of $20 million for the next three years will be used to support the foundational work that’s already been done, because we’ve been able to identify where the greatest needs are and those needs are being addressed,” he explained.

Regina Mayor Chad Bachynski joined Jenson for the news conference, which included an announcement that the City of Regina would receive $1.1 million this budget year to expand and support 24-7 warming centres in the city.

“The biggest conversation is around the need to make sure we’re not kicking people out into the cold. It’s making sure we have 24-7 support for people – we have drastically, dangerously cold winters for someone who’s living outside. We need somewhere for them to go to be safe,” said Bachynski.

In March, city council declared a houselessness crisis in Regina, and Bachynski said that while this money from the province isn’t a total solution, it is something that’s necessary.

“We still need to fund and resource additional supportive housing, transitional housing, treatment spaces – there’s a whole continuum that we still need to work on and we’re constantly having those conversations now to see where those gaps are what we need to do next,” said the mayor.

Jenson said the supportive housing piece of this additional funding will be extremely important, and will likely be utilized mostly in Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert. He said he’s been having conversations with his federal counterpart to make sure supportive housing under Build Canada Homes is remains front and centre.

In September, the province announced $3 million for the City of Saskatoon to support homelessness drop-in services. That money will come from this $20 million PATH expansion.

As of Wednesday’s news conference, Regina city council still needed to approve accepting the money. Then, Bachynski said they would look to implement the money and start working with partners in the city immediately.

“Options are being proposed throughout Regina to ensure that people have safe, warm places to go throughout the community during the winter months – this was a specific need that we heard from local service providers,” said Bachynski.