An emergency shelter that opened its doors in North Battleford in January of 2015 will be closing its doors at the end of March.
Executive Director of The Lighthouse Supported Living in Saskatoon, Don Windels, says their Battlefords location lost a major supporter of the program.
The Provincial Metis Housing Corporation decided to switch their funding to programs in the far north.
Windels has been in contact with the provincial government through the Social Services Ministry, but he says they haven’t had much luck.
He explains that a lot of the individuals they serve fall between the cracks of the federal and provincial government funding.
Windels feels the province should be funding shelters, so they can properly operate rather than spending all their time seeking funding.
Transitional and supported housing programs will continue to operate.
Windels says, “The Lighthouse remains committed to the mission of ending chronic homelessness in North Battleford, and will continue to explore emergency shelter funding sources and partnerships.
NDP Leader Ryan Meili is calling on the Premier and his government to act quickly to ensure proper funding for The Lighthouse. Meili considers it unacceptable that they would allow this service for the province’s most vulnerable people be shut down due to lack of funding.
(CJWW)
