Complex emergency shelters to open in Regina and Saskatoon

Complex emergency needs shelters successful Saskatchewan’s 2 biggest cities will beryllium opening successful nan coming days according to nan province.

According to Tim McLeod, Saskatchewan’s curate of intelligence wellness and conditions, nan shelters successful Regina and Saskatoon will person 15 beds.

The location successful Regina is recovered astatine 430 Pioneer Dr. It’s nan tract of a erstwhile Saskatchewan Health Authority facility. McLeod said nan Regina location is group this week.

In Saskatoon, nan installation is located astatine nan erstwhile tract of an SLGA liquor shop connected Idylwyld Drive North and 38th Street West. It will unfastened adjacent week.

The accommodation will not beryllium for locomotion ins.

“These spaces will beryllium medically supported detention accommodation wherever individuals who are a consequence of harm to themselves aliases others would beryllium detained by nan police… ordinarily, they would simply beryllium detained successful constabulary cells for a play of up to 24 hours aliases until they’re nary longer a consequence of harm to themselves aliases others.

“However, immoderate of nan folks that are battling addiction presently are successful request of that play of detention but would besides require aesculapian supervision. These accommodation will supply that aesculapian support.”

Almost 10 months ago, nan provincial authorities announced conscionable complete $40 cardinal for a homelessness plan, which included backing for two, 15-bed analyzable needs facilities, and two, 30-bed imperishable emergency shelter spaces successful some Saskatoon and Regina.

McLeod said nan analyzable request centres will beryllium tally by Edgewood Health Network Canada.

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Facilities will see registered nurses, licensed applicable nurses, objective counsellors, information personnel, and support unit 24/7.

For Kayla Demong, nan executive head astatine Prairie Harm Reduction, she said having immoderate spaces to thief group erstwhile they are astatine their lowest is incredibly important.

“The astir important portion astir safe depletion sites is that we’re providing group who are often not fixed capable support a spot to usage successful a safer situation pinch aesculapian support and societal supports successful place,” Demong said.

“A spot wherever they tin conscionable consciousness safe accessing america and cognize that there’s a spot of a organization location and group that want them to beryllium treated for illustration quality beings.”

And while shelters for illustration what is being introduced successful Saskatoon and Regina are a bully step, location is still a batch of stigma surrounding supplier usage and homelessness.

“We person this mentality that if you usage substances you’re bad. If you don’t usage them, you’re good,” Demong said. “There doesn’t look to beryllium immoderate mediate ground. And nan existent communicative is that constituent usage is simply a denotation and it’s often a denotation of trauma.”

Although residents successful some cities person raised concerns astir nan shelters, McLeod said nan 2 accommodation shouldn’t disturb anyone successful nan area.