The Lighthouse North Battleford is one of several shelters to receive additional provincial funding amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By paNOW Staff

housing supports

Shelters and lower income population to receive additional provincial funding in wake of pandemic

Mar 31, 2020 | 2:40 PM

The Saskatchewan government released the Ministry of Social Services Pandemic Response Tuesday, which will help vulnerable Saskatchewan citizens by adapting policies and allocating new resources.

“Our government is committed to providing supports to vulnerable citizens in Saskatchewan through this time of uncertainty,” Social Services Minister Paul Merriman said. “The Social Services Pandemic Response provides additional funding to emergency shelters across the province while leveraging existing resources, including vacant social housing units, to ensure each client has the support they require.”

Local reaction

The Prince Albert YWCA will be one of several shelters to receive funding.

“From what I can see with the announcement it sounds very positive, they are looking at putting some things in place for more vulnerable citizens within our communities, so I am happy to hear that,” Donna Brooks, executive director with the Prince Albert YWCA, said. “Some of the pressures that we’re facing, especially in our shelters, our youth homes and our homeward bound program is capacity issues and what to do when someone presents with COVID-19.”

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Shelter support

The response will help shelters accommodate capacity pressures to maintain physical distancing and the need for self-isolation.

The province announced a one-time additional funding of $171,000 to meet the extra costs emergency shelters are experiencing across the province as they work to serve during the pandemic. The additional amount brings the total funding from the province to $3.93 million.

Social Services Minister Paul Merriman said it will be up to individual shelters to ensure social distancing protocols are followed.

Once a shelter’s capacity has been reached, the government will pay for additional people to stay in hotels.

“I know shelters are going to have to reduce their capacity and that’s why I wanted to make sure that we had an overflow into the hotels temporarily until we can find them some permanent home,” Merriman said.

Among other organizations, local shelters to receive funding will include the Lloydminster Men’s Shelter, YWCA Prince Albert, and Lighthouse North Battleford.

The province created the emergency response by adapting the existing Cold Weather Strategy for shelters.

If a client is required by Public Health to self-isolate due to symptoms or exposure to COVID-19, the person will be transported to a safe accommodation like a hotel or individual unit to isolate.

Referrals can be made on behalf of the ministry by Mobile Crisis Services and the Salvation Army.

Those who lack finances to meet their basic needs and either have or are suspected to have COVID-19 should apply for Federal Benefits, the province said. If someone needs immediate emergency help for food or shelter, they can contact the local service centre, their worker or the Client Service Centre at 1-866-221-5200.

Asked how someone who was homeless and without access to a phone or the Internet could access COVID-19 testing, Merriman said shelters or case workers could help.

“If they do present [with symptoms] then we would ask them to call 811 and book their appointment just like anybody else would and we would ask the shelter and any other community based organizations to assist them with that process,” he said.

Children, Youth and Families

Youth who are scheduled to ‘age out of care’ during the pandemic will not be transitioned out of their current housing. Case workers are contacting youth and caregivers to ensure supports and services continue.

Any family that was receiving the Child Care Subsidy and was on a part-time benefits plan because their child was attending school will now receive full-benefits, retroactive to March 1. The subsidy supports low income families with child care costs.

Housing

The Saskatchewan Housing Corporation will begin accepting applications for the Saskatchewan Housing Benefit tomorrow.

The program combines federal and provincial assistance and is delivered through the National Housing Strategy. It is a monthly benefit available to eligible households including seniors, families, couples and singles. It is available to renters who rent from a community housing provider, pay more than 50 per cent of household income on rent and utilities, have incomes and assets below the program limits and are not receiving other government benefits to help with housing or shelter costs.

Eligible households that require one bedroom will receive $150 a month. Households requiring two bedrooms will receive $200 a month, with households that require three or more bedrooms receiving $250 a month.

Forms and more information will be available on the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation website.

Physical distancing

Social Services offices are still open. The first hour of the day is reserved for vulnerable individuals who are at a higher risk if they contract the virus.

To minimize contact, clients are asked not to enter the offices unless it’s an emergency or if they are requested to come in.

Child and family services will continue to provide services but will use alternate methods to avoid contact. If staff members need to enter a home, they will ask a series of screening questions to determine if there is a risk. Child protection workers will have access to personal protective equipment.

For more information, click here.

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panews@jpbg.ca