REGINA — All Nations Hope Network (ANHN) has broken ground on a new site on Friday, which organizers say will help keep up with demand.
The organization helps First Nations, Métis and Inuit living with HIV, AIDS and Hepatitis C with outreach, training, workshops, etc.
Since COVID-19, Melanie Kingston, ANHN director of community health, said they’ve seen a significant spike in people needing those services.
“[Before] we would see anywhere from 50 to 70 people a day. And then once COVID hit, those numbers tripled. We went from 50 to 70 people per day, probably to about 300 to 350 people per day.”
With demand increasing, ANHN worked towards finding a new space to keep up with demand.
Their new site, located at 2735 Fifth Avenue in Regina, plans to be a two-story building.
“On the main level will be the predominant services for the community. So there'll be the Awasu or the warming shelter. There'll also be a pharmacy. There'll be a doctor's office where people can get access to certain medications, basic needs, etc.,” said Dave Ball, project co-ordinator for the new site.
“On the second level is where they call the place of hope. So that's going to be where their ceremony rooms are, where their office staff are going to be and everything," he added
Ball said the site will be around 30,000 square feet.
ANHN plans to combine all three of its current locations into one building.
“I believe that it will be very productive [for us],” said Miranda Keewatin, ANHN programs and research manager.
ANHN has secured funding for the first phase of the project, roughly $13 million from Indigenous Services Canada and the National Indigenous Collaborative Housing Inc.
Ball said the first phase is expected to be completed in October.
Organizers are still working on securing approximately $3 to $4 million to complete the entire building, and are targeting a two-year timeline.
Concerns were raised over the site not being completed.
However, Ball said ANHN is confident in finding the additional funding to complete the building.
“[ANHN] have a very effective grant writing team that has been able to get them to this point, that will continue to speak and develop those relationships with funders.”
