NORTH BATTLEFORD - The Battlefords homeless shelter, operated by Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs Inc. (BATC), will help make sure homeless people have somewhere safe to go to escape the cold this winter, with a lot more beds available.
“Miwasin Kikinaw,” the emergency shelter, is situated at 962-102nd St., near downtown North Battleford.
Last year, the homeless shelter had a maximum of 37 beds available for clients, however this year after making some renovations it has increased its capacity to 75 beds if needed. The bed mats are divided into separate men's and women's dormitories in the facility.
And with temperatures plummeting to minus 30 with the wind chill on many days this December, it's a dangerous time for homeless people to be outside during the night. So the homeless shelter really fills a need.
Leslie-Ann Smith, BATC director of health and nursing services, said the emergency shelter's numbers have increased along with the frigid temperatures this winter.
"We've actually doubled [numbers] since the weather has changed," she said. "Right now, we're averaging 30 people a night. That does fluctuate but we are seeing a lot of the same people coming in each night."
The shelter has been able to increase its capacity to 75 beds by purchasing more sleeping mats and by making the dormitories bigger.
"There's been lots of constant renovations needed in the building," Smith said. "Right now, that's our capacity. The 75 would be pushing our limit. We're really trying hard not to turn anybody away. It would be heart-breaking for us to say: 'Sorry, you can't stay here,' if it's 40 below [Celsius]. You don't get your own room; you get a mat, your bedding, and a safe, warm place to sleep. We have not had to turn anybody away."
Plans are to have more services at the shelter for the New Year.
The long-term aim is to try to transition more people into housing in the community.
"We'll have meetings with the Housing Authority and different people in the area to see if there is something that we can do to support people to look at transitioning to homes," Smith said.
During the winter, from October to May, the shelter is open 24 hours a day, so clients can choose to stay in the building during the day if they wish to stay out of the cold.
Shelter organizers are currently working at starting an arts and crafts program for clients at the facility to help pass the time.
For clients who decide to venture out during the day, the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) recently donated some winter coats to the shelter that will help them stay warm if they don't have proper winter clothing of their own.
"Some people choose not to come into the shelter because they don't like the rules, so they will find themselves [places] to sleep that aren't adequate, especially in this type of weather," Smith said. "So, we'll see those clients coming in and staying until the weather improves."
The shelter staff provide breakfast, lunch and dinner. During Christmas there will be a special hot turkey dinner for clients to enjoy. They will also receive a small gift card this year as a Christmas gift.
"It's so they feel like they're getting something," Smith said. "We really consider them family. They consider each other family because they are in close quarters with one another. Christmas is still celebrated the best we can for them."
Many times on Christmas, family members will pick up their relative to be with them for the day.
"They know they are struggling, so they go and spend the day with the family," Smith said.
The homeless shelter is jointly funded through Canada's Reaching Home program available through Métis Nation–Saskatchewan, as well as through donations, support from the City of North Battleford, and the BATC Community Development Corporation (CDC) program.
Smith hopes the homeless shelter will offer people in need a little bit of Christmas cheer during the holidays and a safe shelter in the cold months ahead.
"We treat everybody like they are someone," she said. "At some point these people were all somebody's baby. They all need respect. I think we have a good program running there. We're getting good feedback from the community, and the clients. They feel safe and they are warm. That's all that counts."
In January 2025, BATC is planning a community conference to discuss homelessness in the area. The final details and location are still to be determined. The City of North Battleford and the Town of Battleford will also be invited to take part, as well as the surrounding First Nations.
"We're hoping to have a coalition on homelessness conference, so people can come in and get some ideas, and we'll let them know where we are at with the funding," Smith said. "We want to open it up so that anybody can come from the community, or if they have concerns or suggestions. We're all in this together. It's everybody's concern."
