REGINA - Namerind Housing Corp. has released a five-year plan to end homelessness by 2030.
The plan, Everyone Deserves a Home, is built around four pillars: leadership & implementation, coordinated access, housing & supports and prevention & diversion.
The plan is expected to cost $111 million. Of that money, it would be split between supportive housing and programing ($58 million), community treatment & case management (27 million), affordable housing and preventive measures ($26 million).
Robert Byers, Namerind’s president and CEO, said the way to end homelessness is not only about affordable and social housing but also having places to support folks.
Byers pointed out Namerind has helped get 1,000 people off the streets through the support of organizations, yet the amount of homeless people in Regina has increased.
Namerind counted 824 homeless people in Regina, up from 255 per cent in 2015.
Other organizations, including the Regina Street Team (RST), believe those numbers could be higher, reflecting what Saskatoon is showing.
Byers mentioned he doesn’t believe they caught all the homeless people in Regina since the count only took place between three to four hours on given days.
These numbers come as Regina is considered one of the more affordable cities to rent,
However, Namerind’s report noted, "rental prices have far outpaced inflation, making city centres, such as Regina, increasingly unaffordable."
It also mentioned that Regina’s prices rent in 2024 went up by roughly 8 per cent.
By investing into homelessness, Namerind said it can reduce the costs of public systems by 50 per cent. Over five years, Namerind estimates the plan would save $133 million.
As for getting the money, the report outlines where each key stakeholder can invest in it
The federal government is being asked to contribute $65 million in capital towards 191 new permanent supportive housing spaces, 155 new affordable housing spaces and more.
As for the province, Namerind is requesting resources be allocated toward new housing supports, including 337 assertive community treatment spaces, 227 intensive case management spaces and more.
Meanwhile, the City of Regina is asked to "contribute resources to the Plan Coordination positions over plan duration."
Namerind is also calling on support from community service providers, local members, and the private sector.
