Last week Avana Developments announced a 116 unit apartment complex in Regina, with 39 of those units dedicated to women and children fleeing domestic violence.
The Federal Government provided $30.8 million while the City of Regina provided $1.9 million, with the Government of Saskatchewan not providing any funding to the project.
Jennifer Denouden, the president and CEO of Avana Developments, said they had tried reaching out to the Government to fund the project, but it led to more frustration.
“We have been at the table with the Saskatchewan Government every single year since we incepted our company in 2014,” she said. “Every single year, we have tried to approach them to try and work together like we had the City and the federal government.”
Denouden said she wanted to voice her frustration for the next developers who may come knocking on the provinces door.
“Although we were able to get where we are without provincial support, I would hope the next developer that comes behind us, that wants to make an impact in this community and wants to develop affordable housing, maybe the provincial government will listen.”
As someone who witnessed interpersonal violence growing up, Denouden felt compelled to do something once she saw there was a need.
“Once we started researching within our own City and found that the YWCA along turns away over 3,000 women and children on an annual basis, we knew we couldn’t just sit by and watch it continue,” she stated.
“From there, we really started researching in into why it’s such an issue here, why Saskatchewan has the highest per capita rate of interpersonal violence in the country, and it’s just a space that we really needed to step up because quite frankly our provincial government has not.”
She said that the province seems to be proud of their work, something they shouldn’t be.
“They’re proud of the work they’ve done in this space and what they’ve accomplished since 2007. We have built the same amount of units in the last three years, so I would be ashamed if I were them.”
Minister of Social Services Lori Carr defended the government’s funding decisions following question period.
“What I see is we have so many good projects that need funding, and we can’t fund them all.”
She said that the government has room for women and children to feel interpersonal violence.
“We have about a 15 per cent vacancy rate now across the province. Today, within the City of Regina, we would have 317 units available for someone fleeing domestic violence.”
Denouden feels there is a reason why they still have space.
“There’s a lot of issues that create barriers within those Regina Authority units which is why they are sitting there,” she said. “Sometimes, they are not in some of the most favourable areas. They’re not a good size. I think the average age of a Regina Housing Authority unit is over 40 or 50 years old. Often times they’re rundown; they’re not feasible for families.”
Avana said that it’s much easier dealing with the Alberta Government, where they are currently building 400 affordable housing units.
“They were supportive when we are building the unit, and they are also very supportive of second-stage shelters when those units are ready, so they fund operating expenses for the shelters,” she said, “Women and children that have delt in these situations, they don’t only need housing, they need the programming and the supports.
The Government of Alberta funds those supports, so we don’t have to continue to like we do here.”
Denouden added that if the provincial government were to supply funding, they would be able to build twice as many affordable housing units.
