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More mental health housing on the way for P.A.

Aug 2, 2018 | 12:00 PM

The Prince Albert branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association is welcoming funding for their latest housing project.

The $612,500 announced this week by the federal and provincial governments will go towards a new six-unit building on 7th St. E. As with their two previous projects in the city, the CMHA accommodation is for people with complex needs and mental illness.

“The units are for people who are hard to house,” Executive Director Doug Kinar told paNOW. “This means people have troubles maintaining their tenancy. Sometimes their illness interferes and sometimes life interferes.”

Kinar said construction of the new ground-level building will provide single occupancy units and the clients will benefit from a full-time caseworker who is funded by the Saskatchewan Health Authority.

“She teaches them budgeting skills, grocery shopping, food preparation, personal hygiene, house cleaning; all the things people need to do successfully if they’re to live independently,” Kinar said.

This is the third project of its kind for the local branch of the CMHA and its various local partners following the construction of Maple Ridge in 2010 and Rascher Place in 2016. This will bring the total number of clients being housed in the city up to 25, but Kinar said there is still a need for more.

“There’s probably room to keep building,” he said.” I have twenty-some people on the waiting list.”

Construction of the new units is expected to get underway next month. The P.A. branch of the CMHA will contribute 30 per cent of the project’s $875,000 budget through a mortgage.

 

glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertNOW