$1M yearly 'housing first' strategy approved by Regina city council

The City of Regina is now set to kick off acity-funded 'housing first' permanent supportive housing grant. Itwill be used to house people who are chronically homeless in Regina.

The permanent supportive housing operating grant was passed unanimously by council on Wednesday and will begin in 2022. Itispart of the city's planoriginally publishedin 2018to end homelessness.

It willprovide up to $1 million each year for community-based organizations to operate around 20housing spaces for people who are hard to house.

City administration said this isa 'housing first' approach meaning people do not need to have been through rehabilitation or detox to qualify and would be funded through the city's social development reserve. Funds would also be offset by moving some from the housing incentives policy to the permanent housing grant.

"While a million dollars is not a lot of money in the context of what is required, it's actually a pretty huge step in the right direction," Coun. Andrew Stevens said.

"It's not just the amount of money, it's how we're spending. I think we need to do better and this is one way of doing that."

Stevens said 20 spots for an estimated 60 people is not a great number. But he says the 20 spots would be for thosewho are the most difficultto house, and therefore the most expensive.

As a part of the 'housing first'strategy, the city will also request support from the provincial and federal governments.

"I'm very fatigued with having to say, 'No, this is someone else's responsibility.' It is not," said Stevens. "It is a collective effort and I think it's to our collective shame that homelessness exists and I think it's important that we have a shared responsibility attitude."

It isn't the first 'housing first' model in the city, as one is operated by the Phoenix Residential Society. However, the city administration said it would be the first funded by the city and help, as there is currently a backlog in demand for the society.

Administration said the program willhave ripple effects throughout the public sector. It said there would be an 81 per cent reduction in related police calls, 89 per cent less related arrests, 75 per cent less ER visits and 93 per cent less detox visits.

Dewdney Park renamed in 9 to 2 vote

Council also voted eight to two to rename Dewdney Park as Buffalo Meadows Park on Wednesday evening. Councillors Lori Bresciani and Terina Shaw were the two votes against the renaming.

In a report, administration said Edgar Dewdney was directly responsible for harmful policies toward Indigenous peoples.

The renaming of the pool in the park was approved unanimously in March. The Regina planning commission voted eight to one to approve the new park name.

City administration said it will nowwork with local groups and a local Elder to hold a ceremony to mark the new name this Spring.