Eight to 10 rooms will be rented at Drifters Motel. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

overnight shelter

Deal reached between Drifters and Kikinahk to house homeless starting next month

Oct 20, 2020 | 2:38 PM

A deal has been reached between La Ronge’s Kikinahk Friendship Centre and Drifters Motel to house those who are homeless overnight during the winter.

“This week I will be putting an ad out for staff,” said Kikinahk Executive Director Ron Woytowich. “We have to hire five staff just like we do every winter. Even though we are renting the motel, these are still homeless people and we have to have staff to make sure everything is fine. There’s no partying. This is a place to sleep and that’s it.”

The deal comes after Kikinahk was unable to receive permission from town council to rezone a building along La Ronge Avenue, which the organization was seeking to purchase. Under the partnership with Drifters, eight to 10 rooms will be rented on a permanent basis and Woytowich said it will be operated equivalent to an emergency shelter.

The Extended Hours Program will start Nov. 15 and run until March 31, 2021, and Woytowich would always like two staff on shift. Clients will be assigned rooms and supervised throughout the night.

“I want two people on all the time, so the motel is not the least bit worried,” he said. “This is a place for them to sleep because, quite frankly, we don’t want them to die.”

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Drifters owner Lana Wasylenchuk explained the deal is good for the community. She noted residents won’t have to worry about the homeless population this winter and what could happen if they are left in the cold.

At this time, Wasylenchuk has no concerns about housing the homeless at her motel as she’s been assured staff will be there to supervise.

“We’re just happy to be able to help the community and solve a huge issue that’s been on everyone’s minds lately,” she said. “There’s been lots of talk on Facebook about it, so I’m glad, and hopefully the community will be happy with the plan and can put everyone’s minds at ease.”

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno