Ottawa is giving a Prince Albert group $283,000 to build transitional housing for Aboriginal families in the city that are homeless — or at risk of homelessness.
The River Bank Development Corporation is using the funds to purchase and renovate two houses, while providing a third house on its own.
Local MP Randy Hoback says by providing stable housing, the two partners are creating a healthy environment for Aboriginal families who don’t otherwise have a place to live.
“We give somebody a proper roof over their head — and then, hopefully, with that issue out of their way, they can deal with other issues and move forward with their lives.”
Having said that, Hoback says there is only so much the government can do:
“You know, I think we’d love to do more. There’s always financial restrictions that allow you to do what you can do. So I think the key thing is take the limited resources that we do have and maximize them . . . . You always want to do more when you see the situation of homelessness, it breaks your heart, and you want to do something about it — but unfortunately it’s not a money tree that we have to work with, so we have to take the limited resources we have and do the best we can with them.”
At least 13 transitional beds will be created among the three houses.