Province helps purchase new property for North Battleford homeless shelter

A new property has been purchased to house a 40-bed emergency shelter in North Battleford.

Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Social Services kicked in $219,000 to help the Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs (BATC) purchase property for its Miwasin Kikinaw shelter. The shelter has been operating since 2021, and the ministry said the new property — located on 102nd Avenue in North Battleford — will enable the shelter to continue providing support for the region’s homeless population well into the future.

“The province is pleased to provide funding to Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs for the purchase of its emergency shelter that will continue to provide support for individuals facing homelessness in the Battlefords area,” Social Services Minister Gene Makowsky said in a statement.

“Through the Miwasin Kikinaw project, BATC supports individuals who need more than a home to remain connected to their community.”

The ministry noted the shelter operates with the support of the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan, City of North Battleford, and provincial government. Joan Bear, CEO of BATC, noted that a collaborative approach is essential for such an important project.

“Addressing the needs of the most at-risk members of our community requires collective efforts from all walks of life,” Bear said in a statement. “In an effort to unite various services for the shelter, BATC took the initiative in May to establish a collaborative network involving multiple agencies.”