Steady growth of Regina tent community draws concern from mayor
Regina’s mayor has given agencies roughly two weeks to find housing for residents of a tent community in Pepsi Park before the city starts looking at putting an end to the camp.
Conditions have gotten colder for the two dozen homeless people living in tents in Pepsi Park.
“The city doesn’t support or endorse a tent city on public property. We do however have an obligation to keep people safe, both those in the encampment as well as the surrounding neighbourhoods,” Sandra Masters said.
Contributing factors to homelessness are complicated and one tent community resident told CTV News some at the camp have turned to drugs to dull the pain in their lives. An emergency task force has been deployed to the scene comprised of social workers, police and fire.
On Wednesday city council approved a partnership with the federal government to build an $8 million supportive housing complex for 29 people experiencing homelessness. However, it won’t be ready for this winter.
Two government-funded buildings intended for supportive living sit vacant including one in south Regina and another on Fifth Avenue due to a lack of a social agency to operate them.
So far, the government has relocated nine people from the camp to hotels or shelters and 17 residents have opted not to leave.
“If people either have a mental health, addictions issue, they’re suffering intergenerational trauma or have certain kinds of disabilities, oftentimes that may translate into a distrust of service providers,” Louise Michaud, assistant deputy minister of Social Services said.
Social Services said it is working to build trust with community members before time runs out.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Person on fire outside Trump's hush money trial rushed away on a stretcher
A person who was on fire in a park outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump’s hush money trial is taking place has been rushed away on a stretcher.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
Senators reject field trip to African Lion Safari amid elephant bill study
The Senate legal affairs committee has rejected a motion calling for members to take a $50,000 field trip to the African Lion Safari in southern Ontario to see the zoo's elephant exhibit.
Tropical fish stolen from Beachburg, Ont. restaurant found and returned
Ontario Provincial Police have landed a suspect following a fishy theft in Beachburg, Ont.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
CFIA monitoring for avian flu in Canadian dairy cattle after U.S. discoveries
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is encouraging veterinarians to keep an eye out for signs of avian influenza in dairy cattle following recent discoveries of cases of the disease in U.S. cow herds.