The Prince Albert YWCA cold weather shelter is $55,000 richer thanks to the federal and provincial governments.
The shelter received $25,000 from the Government of Canada, another $25,000 from the Ministry of Social Services and $5,000 from the Ministry of Justice.
CEO Donna Brooks said she wasn’t even sure if the program would be available without the funding.
“So when the funding came through from both the provincial and federal governments I was very relieved and excited we could offer this program again,” said Brooks. “Every year we always seem to have people freeze to death and last year we didn’t have any freezing deaths, so I firmly believe (the program) saves lives.”
“Nobody should be without a warm place to sleep,” said MLA Victoria Jurgens. “That’s why our government is providing our community partners with the funding supports they need to make sure Prince Albert’s most vulnerable get the help they need, when they need it.”
The 10-bed cold weather shelter opened in 2013 and is operating again this winter.
These 10 beds are in addition to the 90 shelter beds operated year-round by the YWCA in Prince Albert.
Since the fall of 2007, the number of emergency shelter spaces in the province has nearly doubled, an increase of 212 new shelter spaces.