Emergency shelter upgrades will soon benefit victims of domestic violence

Logo: Government of Canada (CNW Group/Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation)

Logo: Government of Saskatchewan (CNW Group/Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation)

MEADOW LAKE, SK, April 20, 2018 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada, the Province 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 over $1.2 million to the shelter which, upon completion, will be wheelchair-accessible, have office and programming space, and additional security precautions.

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

Quick facts:

• The federal and provincial governments, through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and Saskatchewan Housing Corporation (SHC), are jointly contributing over $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.

Quotes:

"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. Our Government remains committed to working with our partners to develop and implement solutions to housing both in Meadow Lake and across Canada." — The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development

"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. 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." — Honourable Jeremy Harrison, Minister of Trade and Export Development and Member of the Legislative Assembly for Meadow Lake

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

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 over $780 million to develop or repair 16,000 housing units across our province. To learn more, visit www.saskatchewan.ca.

SOURCE Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

Media Contacts: Émilie Gauduchon, Office of Minister Duclos, 819-654-5546, [email protected]; Gabriel Teo, CMHC, 604-737-4137, [email protected]; Leya Moore, Saskatchewan Ministry of Social Services, 306-787-3610, [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca