Ron Woytowich is looking to hire six employees at $18/hour. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

homelessness

Overnight shelter in La Ronge to open in coming weeks

Nov 1, 2021 | 10:46 AM

Federal funding has been secured to begin operating the Extended Hours Program this month.

That’s according to Kikinahk Friendship Centre executive director Ron Woytowich, who explained the overnight shelter will once again be located at the Scattered Site Outreach Program in La Ronge. In 2020, Kikinahk wasn’t permitted to use the space due to the need for renovations and recertification of the sprinkler system.

“The building itself, I’m guessing, needs $40,000 in repairs, but we could not get funding for it,” he said. “It’s a lot of money and, if you are the property owner, why would you fix it if there’s no guarantee of further funding? This year it was part of my whole proposal that I wanted the funding as well for those basic repairs to the building.”

The repairs to the building will begin as soon as possible and Woytowich is hopeful clients will be able to stay in the building while the work is completed.

Woytowich is also looking to hire six full-time employees at $18/hour, an increase from $15/hour last year. Hours will be from 4 p.m. to 8 a.m. and workers need to be fully vaccinated and not have a criminal record. Those interested can apply for a position by contacting Kikinahk.

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“We want to make sure at least the people providing service to these homeless people are safe in every way,” he said.

Woytowich also mentioned the shelter will have a capacity for 20 clients and those who are regulars with Scattered Site will be the first to be served. He said because a hotel was used in 2020, there were people travelling from outside of La Ronge looking for a place to stay.

“We’re basically restricting it this year to the street people that we serve year round here in La Ronge out of Scattered Site,” Woytowich said. “If someone else shows up and they are stuck in La Ronge, I’m sorry, you’re not part of that group.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno