Emergency Shelter Upgrades Will Soon Benefit Victims of Domestic Violence

Released on April 20, 2018

The Government of Canada, the Government of Saskatchewan and Meadow Lake Tribal Council are working together to rebuild Waskoosis Safe Shelter (Waskoosis), a six-bedroom facility, to ensure the safety and security of women and children fleeing domestic violence.

The Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan are jointly contributing more than $1.2 million to the shelter which, upon completion, will be wheelchair-accessible, have office and programming space, and additional security precautions.

Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and Trade and Export Development Minister and Member of the Legislative Assembly for Meadow Lake Jeremy Harrison on behalf of Social Services Minister and Minister Responsible for the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation (SHC) Paul Merriman, made the announcement today.

“This investment will continue to help Canadians access safe housing at a critical time in their lives providing stability and support, all while creating jobs for the local economy,” said Duclos. “Our government remains committed to working with our partners to develop and implement solutions to housing both in Meadow Lake and across Canada.”

“We are pleased to work with the Government of Canada and Meadow Lake Tribal Council to help provide a safe facility for women and children in Meadow Lake and the surrounding area who are in crisis,” Harrison said. “Providing homes for our most vulnerable citizens is a priority of our government, and we remain committed to working with our partners to achieve that.”

“This new facility is the result of a successful partnership between Meadow Lake Tribal Council, the federal and provincial governments, the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation and the Provincial Métis Housing Corporation,” Meadow Lake Tribal Council Chief Eric Sylvestre said. “Working together, we will build a place of safety where vulnerable women and children are supported to restore healthy families.”

Quick facts:

The federal and provincial governments, through CMHC and SHC, are jointly contributing more than $1.2 million under the Canada-Saskatchewan Social Infrastructure Fund Agreement.
An additional $99,000 is being contributed to the project through Service Canada’s Homelessness Partnering Strategy.
Waskoosis currently has a limited operational lifespan. The building cannot accommodate individuals with limited mobility, has no suitable office space and cannot reasonably be upgraded to meet modern health and safety regulations, such as fire sprinklers.
Meadow Lake Tribal Council has been operating Waskoosis Safe Shelter since 1992—among many other services such as primary care, community development, domestic violence outreach and family support. Waskoosis offers emergency shelter to up to 21 women and children fleeing domestic violence.

Associated Links:

As Canada's authority on housing, CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need, and offers unbiased housing research and advice to all levels of Canadian government, consumers and the housing industry. For more information, please call 1-800-668-2642 or follow us on Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook.
In October 2012, the Government of Saskatchewan released the Saskatchewan Plan for Growth: Vision 2020 and Beyond, which sets out the government’s vision for a province of 1.2 million people by 2020. The plan identifies principles, goals and actions to ensure Saskatchewan is capturing the opportunities and meeting the challenges of a growing province. Since 2007, the Government of Saskatchewan has invested more than $780 million to develop or repair 16,000 housing units across our province. To learn more, visit www.saskatchewan.ca.

-30-

For more information, contact:

Émilie Gauduchon
Office of Minister Duclos
Ottawa
Phone: 819-654-5546
Email: Emilie.Gauduchon@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

Gabriel Teo
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Vancouver
Phone: 604-737-4137
Email: gteo@cmhc-schl.gc.ca

Leya Moore
Social Services
Regina
Phone: 306-787-3610
Email: leya.moore@gov.sk.ca

Emergency Shelter Upgrades Will Soon Benefit Victims of Domestic Violence

We need your feedback to improve saskatchewan.ca. Help us improve