'Missing in action': Regina council rejects permanent emergency shelter on Albert Street
CBC
A three-year-long search through 35 properties resulted in just a single recommendation from City of Regina staff on where a permanent, emergency shelter should be located.
The property at 1420 Albert St. — being sold as part of a package with 1440 Albert St. — was going to be "as good as it is going to get," according to city manager Niki Anderson.
After more than seven hours of debate on Wednesday, a majority of Regina city councillors told city administration to keep on looking.
The federal and provincial governments were going to cover 80 per cent of the $7.5 million deal in front of council to purchase and renovate the property into a 55-bed shelter.
It would effectively replace the temporary emergency shelter operating at the Nest Health Centre. The city's lease at the facility is set to expire in Summer 2025.
The decision by Ward 2 Coun. Bob Hawkins, Ward 4 Coun. Lori Bresciani, Ward 5 Coun. John Findura, Ward 9 Coun. Jason Mancinelli, Ward 10 Coun. Landon Mohl and Mayor Sandra Masters to pass on the purchasing option drew harsh condemnation from their council counterparts.
"I think we collectively look like a bunch of morons," said Ward 3 Coun. Andrew Stevens, whose ward covers the North Central neighbourhood where the shelter would have been located.
Ward 6 Coun. Dan LeBlanc said a majority of council is "missing in action" when they attempt to address homelessness.
"If we had a book about this Council's approach to homelessness, it would be called 'Thoughts and Prayers,'" LeBlanc said.
City staff must now once again begin searching for a location that will be approved by council.
Anderson emphasized that the discussion left her "baffled" on how to find a property that would overcome the variety of complaints put forward by public delegates and echoed by councillors.
"[City staff] don't believe we will come up with a better option," said the city manager.
Anderson confirmed the decision Wednesday means this council, with an election set for Nov. 13, will not be the group of 10 councillors and one mayor who will decide on the permanent shelter location.
Masters defended her vote against purchasing the properties on Albert, saying that council may still have work to do in alleviating concerns over safety and potentially creating buffer zones that require shelters to be placed a certain distance away from buildings such as schools.
Saskatoon resident Delynne Bortis knew her commute to work Tuesday morning would be particularly difficult.
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