NORTH BATTLEFORD ‑ A proposal from Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs to build a new homeless shelter at 971 - 104th St. will have to wait for another day.
North Battleford council had been scheduled to hear a presentation from BATC Monday in support of a discretionary use application to locate a homeless shelter adjacent to their Atoskewin Success Centre facility.
But that did not go ahead. Instead, Director of Corporate Services Jennifer Niesink told council BATC had asked to put a hold on their presentation and application.
Administration asked council to table the application until such time as it is brought back, either by the proponents or by administration.
It is the latest saga in BATC's move into providing homeless shelter services in the Battlefords. Their journey began Sept. 30 when they took over the operations of The Lighthouse at 962 - 102nd St.
The shelter on 102nd took the name Miwasin Kikinaw, with BATC operating the shelter and leasing the building from The Lighthouse since that time.
But in a letter to the city earlier this month from BATC's former director of operations Alexis Christensen, BATC indicated their tenancy had been due to end March 31 and they were interested in relocating Miwasin Kikinaw to the 104th Street location.
In correspondence to the city, BATC stated they were interested in purchasing the lot located north of their Atoskewin Success Centre building, and then add on to that structure. The existing building was to house program space and an industrial kitchen, while the addition would include a dormitory for sleeping and showering.
A discretionary use application and council approval is required for this plan to go ahead. But the application received a swift thumbs-down from area residents. City administration received well over 100 letters of opposition to the proposed shelter.
Most of the responses cited concerns about crime, vandalism, loitering, safety and property values, as well as its proximity to seniors and a nearby daycare centre. The responses included two separate signed letters of opposition. One was signed by 123 people representing the local business community, while the other was a petition signed by 26 seniors on 104th Street.
The project did receive the endorsement of six BATC First Nation chiefs, who submitted a “unanimous” letter of support to the City.
In both BATC’s letter as well as the letter of support from the chiefs, it was noted BATC had looked into staying at their current Lighthouse location beyond March 31.
BATC’s correspondence stated they had expressed interest in buying the 102nd Street building, but “have had no response as of yet from The Lighthouse administration.”
In their letter of support, the BATC chiefs stated their tribal council had investigated buying the existing Lighthouse building, but “have concerns with the accessibility in the building for clients, as well as costs for renovations. Our staff at BATC and at Miwasin Kikinaw have shown passion, dedication and resiliency in moving the shelter into a place of programming and support.”
Council voted unanimously in favour of tabling the application.
