Homeless people in Prince Albert. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

By Jaryn Vecchio

Important Funding

Feds give around $120K to P.A. group to support community’s homeless

Feb 12, 2024 | 4:40 PM

Around $120,000 from the federal government was recently given to Prince Albert’s River Bank Development Corporation.

The money is part of the $100 million in emergency winter funding that the Liberals allocated in December 2023. The funds were given to organizations in over 80 communities across the country.

“This is just an extra top-up for this winter because people across the country, not only Prince Albert, are having a lot of trouble with the rapid expansion of homelessness,” said Brian Howell, manager of the River Bank Development Corporation.

He explained these funds are just for this winter.

One of the main initiatives they’re funding is the Prince Albert Grand Council’s (PAGC) outreach van which goes out at night and provides the homeless with food and a place to warm up. The River Bank Development Corporation ended up giving them $45,000.

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The Prince Albert Indian and Métis Friendship Centre was given $20,000 to help with their programs and services, while housing support workers and Homeward Bound received a combined $10,000 to help pay off rental arrears and as emergency funding.

The last of the funding was given to the Salvation Army Prince Albert.

Around $5,000 was used to put down some flooring at their warmup shelter, soon-to-be dining room, with volunteers finishing that work this past weekend.

Volunteers putting in the new flooring at the Salvation Army’s warmup shelter. (submitted photo/Laura Anderson)

The space was open for a couple of weeks earlier this year with an unfinished floor, though it became clear it needed to be updated due to the amount of people they were supporting. During the severe cold snap, the shelter’s doors would be opened by someone needing to warm up over 800 times.

In total, the Salvation Army received $40,000.

“The majority of it will go into supplies and food,” said Major Ed Dean.

He explained this is very much needed as they’re roughly handing out 200 meals a day, six days a week.

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Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow