A new resource centre is in the works to support Lloydminster’s unhoused population in the heart of the city.
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The Lloydminster and Vermilion for Equity (LVE) Foundation announced work is underway to open the Nitôtêm Resource Centre.
LVE is in the process of obtaining permits from the City of Lloydminster for the resource centre.
“We did apply for the proper development permit,” said Tamara Dancy, a third-year social work student who will serve as the project’s caseworker. “They asked for more information, we are in the process of submitting the information. Then, they’re going to send out community engagement to businesses within 200 metres.”
She says they’ve been discussing having a physical building for some time.
“We have talked about getting a building for the last year or two,” Dancy said, explaining they hadn’t applied for funding until recently receiving two grants. “It’s been a dream for awhile.”
For Tigra-Lee Campbell, LVE co-founder and president, the centre will serve as a one-stop-shop.
“The centre will be a one-stop shop for those seeking resources,” she said, explaining people will be able to get basic necessities, showers, laundry, life skills and employment training. “I believe in building an equitable community where everyone has what they need to survive.”
The new building will offer a variety of new services for the unhoused population, including proposed transitional housing.
“Some of the new services we would like to offer, we would like our own inclusive space for LVE operations and transitional housing. The building does have two units at the top where we will offer pre- and post-treatment beds,” said Campbell. “Each unit has two rooms; we’re going to house four people.
“The first unit will be free post-detox treatment. That gap between detox and treatment is really long. The other unit, which is post treatment, we’re hoping for a 90-day turnaround.”
LVE currently runs the warming van during periods of extreme winter cold in partnership with the City of Lloyd.
“We’re hoping to do the winter warming response as well as the summer weather,” she said, noting there’s only 15 seats on the bus to help the 70 people in the city that are completely unhoused.
The goal for LVE is to eventually offer a warming shelter in a more permanent place.
Deborah Munroe, executive director of the Lloydminster Native Friendship Centre, said the need for the resource centre is very high.
“We’ve had 1,833 points of service with unhoused individuals,” she said. “We only have 10 staff here.”
LVE received funding from two sources. They received $500,000 from the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan for the purchase and renovations of the building and $150,000 for operational costs from the Rural Development Network.
Staffing at the resource centre will feature two full-time employees, one part-time employee and one to two volunteers, with more volunteers coming in on meal service days.
Campbell says they’ll work collaboratively with other local non-profits.
“We can’t do everything and we don’t want to do everything,” she said.
Security concerns were raised during LVE’s public engagement efforts. The team hopes to address these issues through staffing at the resource centre.
“All of our staff and volunteers will be trained in de-escalation training and crisis intervention training, so we can be the first point of contact with that,” said Campbell.
She explained a resource centre wouldn’t necessarily be a bigger draw for the proposed downtown centre, which would be located at 4920 50 St.
“(A) resource centre isn’t necessarily going to make them come in droves when they’re already here,” she said.
According to Campbell, the term Nitôtêm means “our friend” in Cree, something the team reflects in the operation of the building.
“To provide that safe space to come as you are, regardless of whether you’re under the influence or not, we still think you deserve services and resources,” she said.
Campbell made it clear what the facility would not be.
“We are not going to be a safe consumption site,” she said.
Permitting is ongoing but the team has high hopes the facility will open in late summer.
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