Many questions about Tri-Community Homeless Shelter Inc. remain unanswered. (Facebook/Cook-Searson Tammy Jim)

By Derek Cornet

municipal politics

Air Ronge, La Ronge councils make different decisions on homeless shelter funding

Jan 26, 2022 | 2:50 PM

Tri-Community Homeless Shelter Inc. didn’t receive what they asked from both Air Ronge and La Ronge councils during regular meetings Tuesday.

The organization had requested between $10,000 to $20,000 from each council with the goal of also securing a similar amount from the Lac La Ronge Indian Band. The funds would be used to hire an employee or consultant to achieve operational status and apply for project and program-based grants.

Air Ronge council agreed to contribute a one-time grant of $7,500, while La Ronge council passed a motion to defer the request to the community grant program which opens in March.

“We have yet to see like a business plan,” La Ronge Coun. Abby Besharah said. “I know they need time to be able to do this, but they also need money to be able to pay someone help them with it, so it’s a chicken and egg issue.”

Councillors also discussed whether or not funding a homeless shelter is a municipal responsibility and how the shelter would be funded in the long term. They also wanted to know more about Kikinahk Friendship Centre’s involvement in Tri-Community Homeless Shelter Inc. considering Kikinahk has been operating an Extended Hours Program for many years.

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“We definitely need more information to move forward with this and I think with consultation with the existing team right now,” Coun. Joe Hordyski said.

The sole purpose of the new organization is to create a permanent solution for community members who live without shelter or housing security. The group is yet to secure charitable status or sign a memorandum of understand with an accounting partner.

larongeNOW reached out to Tri-Community Homeless Shelter Inc. earlier this week and was denied an interview.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno