Programming at the Saskatoon Native Circle Ministry. Photo courtesy Facebook.
New floors and other renovations are in store for two groups serving those in need in Saskatoon.
The city’s Native Circle Ministry and Crisis Nursery have been awarded a total of $25,000 after the group that distributes money through the federal Homelessness Partnering Strategy program found that they had some extra funds to spare for small projects that prevent or reduce homelessness in Saskatoon area.
The Saskatoon Housing Initiatives Partnership’s (SHIP’s) recent call for proposals led them to decide the small amount of money would go a long way for the ministry and nursery.
Fire code renovations at the ministry will help preserve infrastructure in a building that provides hot meals and art programs for those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
It’s “basically a place to go and feel connected to a good social network,” said Shaun Dyck, executive director of SHIP.
New flooring was needed at a Crisis Nursery home.
“This is a place for young children that are in the midst of a family crisis and this flooring was 100 years old and they would get splinters or it was cracking,” Dyck said.
In total, the strategy provides $2 million in funding to homelessness projects – with 40 per cent that dedicated to Housing First projects that provide stable housing for those who have struggled to maintain a home – each year.
Dyck encourages groups that serve the homeless to submit proposals to his group in the fall.