REGINA – The initiative that started in New York City is setting up to end homelessness in the Queen city.
Phoenix Residential Society and the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness are launching a Housing First initiative in Regina.
Pamela Reimer the Director of Homelessness Partnering and Housing First Initiatives says that Saskatchewan has two other programs like this in Saskatoon and Prince Albert.
“Regina is the last of the Prairie cities to have a housing first in their town,” says Reimer.
The city’s last pit count that took place in May 2015 indicated a homeless population of roughly 232 people.
Reimer explains that this number tends to increase in the summer due to the warmer weather.
“We know that in the summertime numbers tend to go up a little bit more because it’s easier to be outside. Versus in the wintertime they will find somewhere to stay, whether or not its a safe place to stay,” Reimer added.
The program will initially target the chronically homeless which is between five to 10 per cent of that population.
The ultimate goal for the individuals in the program is a different kind of motivation.
“To be able to get their life back and to be have that home, and have that dignity, to gain self-respect and to gain that trust,” said Kendra Giles for Phoenix Residential Society.
Without a home, a place to start fresh, this can be an impossible goal. For some individuals who have been living on the streets for 10 to 20 years this can be a big adjustment period and is going to take time.
“We had one client that it took us about a month to get everything into her apartment, because just having that stuff in front of her was something hadn’t had in 20 or 30 years. So being able to take that step one thing at a time is how you can move forward, but for some people it might take a couple of years before they are ready to look at recovery. Each step forward is a huge success,” says Giles.
This community-based program works to reduce and someday end homelessness by provide the support that individuals need to get back on their feet.
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