Prince Albert Indian Metis Friendship Centre Executive Director Janet Carriere speaks at a Dec. 7 city council executive committee meeting. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

New development

New affordable housing complex proposed for South Hill

Dec 8, 2020 | 8:31 AM

The Prince Albert Indian Metis Friendship Centre’s plan to build a new eight-unit affordable housing complex in South Hill has some early support from Prince Albert city council.

Janet Carriere, executive director of the local Friendship Centre, presented at Monday’s city council executive committee meeting.

She explained Prince Albert has little to no affordable housing specifically for men. The new apartment building, which will be funded by the federal government, aims to address that gap.

“We found that working with men who are coming out of the federal system, we can find them jobs, we can find them everything, but we can’t find them anywhere to live,” she said. “So this would be by no means a halfway house, but it would be an opportunity for them to find a place to rent.”

Carriere said details are still being worked out, but another group that could benefit from the project are people exiting addictions treatment.

Community support

The Hunger Games return to Prince Albert

5m ago

Raiders win 5-3

Defensive scoring leads Raiders over Wheat Kings

7h ago

GST Holiday

Federal government's two-month GST holiday begins

23h ago

The Friendship Centre will provide programming and supports, including access to ceremony, to all residents.

“We are hoping to make a difference in our community, which will not only benefit the people we work for, but will benefit the whole city of Prince Albert,” she said.

The Friendship Centre will buy a city-owned parcel of land at 2950 First Ave. W. While the bill of sale for the $249,000 plot will be finalized at a later date, council gave the Friendship Centre the early approval it needs to apply for federal funding.

Councillors were enthusiastic about seeing the project move forward.

“You guys are doing great work,” Coun. Tony Head told Carriere. “It’s great to see some new homes coming in our community.”

The federal program the Friendship Centre can apply to was set to provide rapid affordable housing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Carriere explained units will be modular so the building can be put together quickly once it’s approved and could be open by early 2022.

–

alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom