By Stephanie Froese

Homeless program’s life extended

Mar 22, 2011 | 11:22 AM

A pilot program that helps the homeless in Prince Albert will be continuing past its initial end date of Mar. 31.

Homes for the Homeless, a joint initiative between North Saskatchewan River Metis Nation Local #269 and Jubilation Residential Centres Inc., has been looking for funding since November.

Without the finances the program, which has seen success in helping the homeless population, would have to shut down.

“When we started this program we knew that it was going to be a 10 month pilot program. What we did not know it that it was going to be so successful,” said John Fryters, executive director for the Jubilation Residential Centers Inc.

Fryters said they just found out Monday that they have enough funding to keep the full program running for another four months.

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A variety of sources, with the lions share coming from Regina’s Community Initiatives Fund, came up with the $25,300 for the program.

“It will give us four months to continue to look for more of a stable financial base.”

Although Fryters said they are “very, very happy this is happening,” he said, the uncertainty that comes with temporary funding is a “dramatic thing and not good for the clients and it’s not good for staffing.”

“This is obviously a problem that many agencies have to deal with, not just us … if you get financial backing from one source or maybe a few sources and then not knowing what will happen at the end of each fiscal year. “

Fryters said they would continue to meet with government agencies and search for financial backers that would give the Homes for the Homeless Program permanent funding.

For more on this porgram: Program to help homeless fighting for sustainability

sfroese@panow.com