City of Regina works with North Central Family Centre on rapid housing project
Summer weather has brought an increase in the number of people living on the streets of Regina. Tents have been popping up near the downtown as agencies search for housing.
Derek and Chrissy have been living in Regina for over a decade. They have fallen on hard times and are living on the street.
“I’ve been beaten up on the street twice. I can’t get into the shelter. I can’t find a home,” Chrissy told CTV News.
“We got robbed five times already and, you know, they take everything,” Derek said.
They are part of a growing number of people with nowhere to live. Tents are popping up in several places in the Heritage Neighbourhood. Shylo Stevenson, director of The Comeback Society, says the situation is becoming more visible.
(Wayne Mantyka / CTV News)
“There are supports and services in place but one of the biggest barriers that our relatives on the street face is obtaining identification and so with ID, the lack of support to get ID is one of the biggest barriers for them to get into supportive living,” he explained.
A rendering of the new rapid housing complex. (Wayne Mantyka / CTV News)
There is temporary help at shelters and the city is working on another rapid housing project. It has partnered with the federal government and the North Central Family Centre to build a complex at 5th Avenue and Angus Street.
Kim Wenger, executive director of the North Central Family Centre, said the complex would have programming and support services.
“We’ll be moving our housing and outreach team over there, along with our youth employment program but we’ll also be looking to partner with various organizations throughout the city who are doing great work as well to offer cultural programming, supportive programming, or counselling.”
Social Services provides emergency housing but many end up back on the street. Until more supportive housing comes online, the situation continues.
The project is anticipated to be completed in late 2024, according to the city.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trudeau acknowledges charges in Nijjar killing, calls for commitment to democracy
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged the charges laid Friday in relation to the murder of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Princess Anne lays wreath at B.C. veteran's cemetery; receives 21-gun salute
Princess Anne paid tribute to veterans buried at a cemetery in British Columbia today, laying a wreath to honour the more than 2,500 military personnel and family members buried there.
Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in a three-horse photo finish
Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish, edging out Forever Young and Sierra Leone for the upset victory.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.