The Government of Saskatchewan is providing $650,000 to develop eight new housing units for individuals experiencing homelessness in North Battleford, in partnership with the Battlefords Indian Métis Friendship Centre.
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Construction is already underway on the project, according to a provincial government announcement. The building is a single detached home containing eight units, each with its own bedroom and private bathroom, along with a shared kitchen and programming space for residents.
Accessible units and expected completion date
Two of the eight units are designed to be fully accessible for persons with disabilities, the province said. The project is expected to be completed in early 2027.
Social services minister Terry Jenson said the funding is meant to provide more than just a roof over residents’ heads.
“Supporting affordable housing projects like this help those experiencing homelessness to find the community and stability to rebuild their lives,” Jenson said. “Our partnership with the Battlefords Indian Métis Friendship Centre is another example of how our government and Indigenous partners work together to support individuals who need more than a home to remain connected to housing.”
Friendship centre to run day-to-day operations
The Battlefords Indian Métis Friendship Centre will handle day-to-day operations at the building and provide culturally appropriate support for residents, according to the province.
Battlefords Indian Métis Friendship Centre executive director Jackie Kennedy said the program is designed for people who have faced the greatest barriers to stable housing in the Battlefords.
“Our supportive housing program provides a safe, warm home and connection to services for people who have been some of the hardest to house here in the Battlefords,” Kennedy said. “As importantly, our residents feel safe to connect to each other and become like family and help each other on their healing path.”
This marks the second eight-unit housing project the province has developed with the friendship centre, officials said.
Part of broader provincial rental development funding
The $650,000 contribution is part of the Government of Saskatchewan’s $10-million commitment over the past two years to the Rental Development Program, which funds housing providers to build new affordable housing for people with the greatest housing need.
Additional money for the North Battleford project is coming from the Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs Community Development Corporation and Reaching Home through Métis Nation Saskatchewan, along with a land grant from the Battlefords Indian Métis Friendship Centre, the province said.
The announcement follows a mixed-use affordable housing model introduced in North Battleford earlier this year and comes as advocates across the region continue to raise concerns about housing and shelter shortages. A recent push by the Saskatchewan NDP called on the province to address systemic housing and shelter gaps in Lloydminster, while community groups in the Battlefords have previously held symposiums focused on local homelessness.
Questions about the project can be directed to Social Services media relations in Regina at 306-787-3610.
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