REGINA — Vulnerable residents staying at Regina’s tent encampment in a downtown park, known as Camp Hope, began the process of moving to an indoor facility on Monday, with the help of volunteers and city workers.
The new indoor emergency shelter is the result of an agreement between multiple parties in Regina, and will now operate as an alternative to the outdoor camp, which was established in early October as a shelter option for those in need.
The emergency shelter officially opened on Monday morning, under the management of the Regina Treaty Status Indian Services, who also coordinated operations at Camp Hope.
Decommission of Camp Hope was originally set for Friday, but was pushed back by organizers to Nov. 15 to allow more time for arrangements at the indoor space to be finalized.
While city buses served as transport to the new shelter, city crews joined volunteers to deconstruct the barriers erected around the encampment.
Camp Hope housed as many as 100 people at its busiest, said RTSIS executive director Erica Beaudin, and around 60 individuals remained for today’s relocation. In a previous interview with the press, Beaudin described the negotiations for the facilty as part of a "made in Regina" solution.
A total of 40 shelter beds are available at the indoor facility, the location of which remains undisclosed for patron safety, which means an estimated 20 individuals will need to seek alternation shelter options after today.
“Over the next few days, RTSIS will be on site at the outdoor camp, to work one-on-one with residents, as we plan for a successful transition from the dangerously cold conditions of the outdoor camp into the warmth of the emergency shelter,” said Beaudin.
The indoor location was secured as a lease between the City of Regina and a third-party private owner, in which the city has agreed to maintain the building and offer it as a shelter.
“The opening of this emergency shelter allows RTSIS to lead a safe, respectful transition for outdoor camp residents,” said Mayor Sandra Masters. “We appreciate the continued support of the Province and the ongoing efforts of our Fire, Police and Transit services [and] I look forward to continued collaboration with all stakeholders as we work towards addressing homelessness within our City.”
While the city is providing the facility, the provincial government has pledged $500,000 in funding to the RTSIS to provide shelter to clients in need.
The move to a new indoor space also follows an announcement from the provincial government last week that some changes to the Saskatchewan Income Support program will be reversed, after much public criticisms — including from the RTSIS and those staying at Camp Hope.
