Staff of the PAGC pose in front of the Moose Caboose, a mobile shelter being operate by the PAGC. (submitted/Facebook)

By Susan McNeil

Homelessness in Prince Albert

Mobile shelter provides warm rest for homeless

Dec 30, 2022 | 3:00 PM

People finding themselves outside in the cold Prince Albert winter nights trying to sleep have a new option for a warm rest.

For the last six weeks, the Prince Albert Grand Council has been operating the Moose Caboose as an alternative.

“For those without a home, the cold weather poses a desperate life-and-death situation, and we need to do our best to help them in these situations. For their own reasons, some of them are choosing not to go the available shelters, so we want to provide them with another option that they find welcoming, comfortable and safe,” said PAGC Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte.

Every night between 6 pm and 2 am, the van will operate at a different location in the city offering shelter for vulnerable people outside.

The decision to make the van available was a response to the recent freezing death of a man from the Montreal Lake First Nation, who died of hypothermia at the beginning of the winter.

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It is also one of the things discussed at a meeting of the PAGC, PAGC’s Senate, PAGC’s Women’s Commission, Montreal Lake Cree Nation, Little Red Reserve, Métis Nation-Saskatchewan, YWCA Prince Albert, Prince Albert Indian Métis Friendship Centre, West Flat Community Centre, River Bank Development Corporation, Parkland Ambulance Care, Prince Albert Downtown Business Improvement District, and the Prince Albert Police Service on November 17.

The group was called to address the growing homeless population in the city, now numbering about 67 people, and the lack of available shelter beds for the winter.

“Our many partners in the city recognize that it is our collective responsibility to help our most vulnerable members in need. Now that we have this outreach van in operation, we have staff who will be able to drive around the city late at night and make sure that no one else will be left struggling on their own,” said Hardlotte.

The van will available as follows:

Stepping Stones (900 Exhibition Drive) — 7 pm, 10:15 pm, 12:15 am, and 1:30 am

Cornerstone, Arby’s parking lot (800 15th Street East) — 8:05 pm, 10:45, and 1 am

Giant Tiger (267 32nd Street West) — 8:45 pm, 11 pm, and 1:30 am

Moose Lodge (107 8th Street) — 9:30 pm, 11:45 pm, and 1:25 am

Brick apartment (235 10th Street East) — 10:05 pm and 12:05 am

Updates to the schedule will be made on the PAGC Facebook page.