'The will of the people': Petition calling on City of Regina to commit to solving homelessness crisis
As the one-year anniversary of the formation of a tent city in Regina’s Core Community Park approaches, a petition is calling on the City of Regina to commit to ending the homelessness crisis.
Alysia Johnson and Rally Around Homelessness believe plans and ideas from city council are nothing new. Johnson has penned a petition to Regina city council to turn their words into action.
“It’s a pretty simple ask,” she said. “Funding to end homelessness needs to take priority in the 2023 budget.”
According to Homeless Hub, 488 people in Regina experienced homelessness in Regina in 2021. Among those, 79 per cent identified as indigenous.
Johnson said her petition has been met with overwhelming support from people living in all areas of the city.
“The will of the people is there,” she said. “I would love to see that reflected and for councillors to understand this is their constituents want and are asking for if they just get out and talk to them.”
The city said it is having discussions about solving the crisis.
“The request was to create a budget line item to determine the actual dollar amount needed to implement a reaching home initiative,” said Mayor Sandra Masters. “That will be considered at budget in December.”
Masters also said the city is collecting data on the number of people who are in need of secure housing as the colder months approach.
“A number of individuals who may have been living on the streets during the summer would have had little interaction with social services,” she said. “We expect them to start showing up places in order to access warmth.”
Masters added the city has $1 million set aside for the operational costs of 29 new units opening in spring 2023.
Johnson said she plans to present her petition to council when it discusses the budget in December.
“It’s going to show council there is broad support,” she said. “It doesn’t matter where you live in the city and if they listen to their constituents, they’ll know what their priorities are.”
Homeless Hub also said there were almost 33,000 visits to food banks in Saskatchewan last year. To help those experiencing food insecurity, community fridges have popped up in various areas around the city.
Saltine Bakery has seen a need for bread and buns and has stepped up to donate their baked goods to those in need.
“Bread is such a primitive food product,” said owner Ashley Schmalenberg. “Everyone should be able to eat fresh bread and have food on the table.”
For just $5, a customer may support their cause by purchasing the ingredients needed to make the donated bread. On top of that, Saltine donates their excess product to various community programs.
“We need to open to the fact that those things are going on,” said Schmalenberg. “It’s easy to turn a blind eye. But if the community can take the time to dig into the [the issue], you become aware of just how many people are food insecure.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Average hourly wage in Canada now $34.95: StatCan
Average hourly wages among Canadian employees rose to $34.95 on a year-over-year basis in April, a 4.7 per cent increase, according to a Statistics Canada report released Friday morning.
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
This iconic Canadian song is turning 50
Andy Kim's 'Rock Me Gently' is marking a major milestone, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Oprah Winfrey: I set an unrealistic standard for dieting
Oprah Winfrey said on Thursday evening that she has long played a role in promoting unhealthy and unrealistic diets.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Toronto police called to Drake's Bridle Path mansion for another alleged intruder on Thursday
Toronto police say a man who allegedly attempted to access Drake’s Bridle Path property was taken to hospital on Thursday after an altercation with security guards.
Flat tire on a highway? Here's why you shouldn't try to fix it
If you're cruising down a highway and realize you have a flat tire, you may want to think twice before stopping to fix it on the side of the road.
Storm-battered U.S. South is again under threat. A boy swept into a drain fights for his life
Dangerous storms crashed over parts of the U.S. South on Thursday even as the region cleaned up from earlier severe weather that spawned tornadoes, killed at least three people, and gravely injured a boy who was swept into a storm drain as he played in a flooded street.
Broadcaster and commentator Rex Murphy dead at 77: National Post
The National Post is reporting that Rex Murphy, the pundit and columnist who hosted a national call-in radio show for decades, has died.