(File photo/paNOW staff)

By Jaryn Vecchio

Council Preview

P.A. city council set to discuss homelessness ‘crisis’ at next meeting

Nov 6, 2021 | 9:00 AM

Homelessness will be the main talking point when Prince Albert’s city council meets next week.

They’ll be discussing ways to help the community’s homeless including potentially providing $10,500 to the Living Skies Centre for Social Inquiry.

Dr. Chad Nilson, who’s with the organization, has worked with the city in the past, previously helping count the number of individuals who live on the streets.

If approved, the funding would be used to create an ‘actionable solutions forum’ which will support homelessness prevention and intervention efforts in P.A.

The forum would look to include professionals in multiple sectors such as housing, mental health, addictions, policing, corrections, courts, business and investment, and municipal, Indigenous, and provincial governments.

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“The homeless situation has always existed, but it’s escalating to a crisis, and we’ve all been witness to it as we see more and more people sleeping on the streets,” said Mayor Greg Dionne in a release.

“It’s an issue that has landed on our doorstep and we are at the point where we have to take an assertive role on behalf of our residents and business owners.”

As reported by paNOW, several of the city’s homeless personally want to see more done to support them and their peers.

Meanwhile, the city’s council will also look to officially continue its plans in creating a regional approach for economic development.

They’ll debate whether to extend the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) they have with the Rural Municipalities of Prince Albert and Buckland, the Town of Shellbrook, the Muskoday First Nation, and Peter Ballantyne Developments LP.

The MOU was signed in March 2019 with most of the work done in the past couple of years focusing on setting up the Prince Albert Regional Economic Development Alliance (PAREDA).

They will also look to officially set up ‘no U-turn signs’ in all elementary school zones.

Back in early October, Councillors Ted Zurakowski and Dennis Ogrodnick brought up concerns over the lack of tickets being handed out due to the lack of signage and the overall safety of students, teachers, and staff.

P.A.’s council will meet on Monday, November 8 starting at 5 p.m.

Those who plan to watch or take part in the meeting in person must wear a mask and provide proof of vaccination.

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Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow