Warm-up location to remain open nightly until April
With temperatures dropping to nearly -30 C on Monday, the City of Prince Albert has asked residents to direct anyone who doesn’t have a home and can’t access the Emergency Shelter to The Meeting Place overnight warm-up location.
The warm-up location is located in the Salvation Army building on Central Avenue and has served more than 160 individuals since opening on Dec. 19.
“With extreme cold temperatures expected this week, we urge anyone needing a warm place to seek shelter at The Meeting Place,” City of Prince Albert Community Safety and Well-Being Manager Anna Dinsdale said in a press release. “No one should have to face these dangerous conditions alone. If you know someone who may need help, please encourage them to come in or connect them with available resources.”
The Meeting Place is open every night to provide “safe and welcoming space during the harsh winter months,” the City wrote in a press release. The location will be open until April to provide a space for individuals who may not have access the Emergency Shelter.
The City is operating it in partnership with the Salvation Army and The Safe Shelter for Women after receiving a one-time grant of $150,000 to provide additional services for Prince Albert’s homeless community during the winter.
Dinsdale said the initiative reflects a collaborative approach to community safety and well-being. The Meeting Place will have on-site security regularly patrol inside and outside the building. There will also be a visible police presence through overnight patrols.
Bylaw and CSO support will also be provided in the early morning to address “unintended consequences and support a seamless transition for clients,” according to the press release.
The Riverbank Development Corporation and Metis Nation Saskatchewan recently provided additional support for upgrades to improve building accessibility, and inclusion.
The warm-up location started operating three days a week, and increased to seven nights a week after Christmas. Major Ed Dean of the Salvation Army said they always planned to have a soft launch, followed by the ramping up of services after Christmas.
So far, Dean is liking the results.
“It has been a success,” he said.
