Scattered Site is located downtown along La Ronge Avenue. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

winding down

‘Too much opposition’: Essential services for homeless ends June 30

May 28, 2024 | 5:00 PM

“I’m really disappointed. I’m really disappointed with the town for what they did.”

Those are the words of Kikinahk Friendship Centre executive director Ron Woytowich, who announced its program Scattered Site would come to an end June 30 due to strong municipal and public opposition of its current and proposed locations.

The move will bring to an end essential services for the tri-community’s homeless population, services which includes mental health and additions, a winter overnight shelter, meals, a public bathroom and more.

“There’s a lot of reasons, but the big one is there has been too much opposition over the years over the locations we are in,” Woytowich explained.

“I’m not giving up the building rent yet, but … all of our funders have been advised and all of the funding ends June 30.”

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In April, Kikihahk received nearly $2 million from the federal government to purchase La Ronge’s Waterbase Inn and begin operations at the building. They had also received confirmation from the province of a $120,000 per year commitment to assist with their plan pending approval from the local municipality.

At a public hearing, Kikinahk was met with strong opposition to its plan from town council, nearby residents and business owners. The Kikinahk board believed the Waterbase Inn would have been an ideal location because it would provide clients with their own rooms and washing room facilities, as well as the building having a kitchen, laundry services, and room for expansion to support increased social services and staff.

Kikinahl had the chance to purchase Waterbase Inn with federal funding. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

Woytowich noted the current facility is too small and doesn’t meet standards when it comes to providing the homeless population with the services they need to succeed.

At the current Scattered Site building, men and women were forced to sleep side-by-side with one bathroom in the same space they are fed during the day.

“People deserve more. People deserve to be treated with dignity and the motel purchase would have completely fulfilled that,” Woytowich said.

Woytowich doesn’t know who will take on the initiative, but he added the entire operation costs approximately $1 million with the majority coming from its parent organization. Those dollars won’t be available to any other group wishing to be the new service provider.

In an email to larongeNOW, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Social Services stated the Government of Saskatchewan invested $97,600 to fund 10 emergency shelter spaces. The funding was part of the Provincial Approach to Homelessness announced in October 2023.

“Municipalities are responsible for identifying shelter locations in their communities,” the email added. “We work with service providers and municipalities to provide operational funding for shelter spaces in areas of greatest need.”

La Ronge Mayor Joe Hordyski said he’s not sure who will provide services after June 30. He mentioned town council was blindsided by the fact Kikinahk pulled the plug on its services because they were denied the opportunity to purchase the Waterbase Inn.

“We really didn’t know they were going to shut everything down and it’s unfortunate,” Hordyski said.

“I am going to be looking to meet with the band and certainly try to come up with some kind of facility that will at least get people out of the cold. It might not be at the same level that we had, but certainly we are going to try come up with a solution.”

larongeNOW reached out to the Tri-Community Housing Strategy for comment on this article, but didn’t receive a response by publishing.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com