Tents set up outside Regina City Hall to push leaders to end homelessness – Regina | 24CA News
A small group of homeless individuals are dwelling in tents on the doorstep of Regina City Hall, however the selection of location wasn’t unintentional.
They’re attempting to ramp up the stress on metropolis council to dwell as much as a promise to finish homelessness within the metropolis.
Community organizer Kale Maclellan mentioned the tent demonstration began as a little bit of a solidarity-building train between 16 neighborhood members.
“The City bylaw enforcement chased us out of Pepsi Park … and so we were discussing like, what is most effective? Like, what should we do next?” mentioned Maclellan.
“Somebody threw out the idea that it would be interesting to take this right to city hall … we really wanted to show solidarity.”
In June 2022, Regina City Council made a dedication to finish homelessness inside one yr, however that plan didn’t make it into the finances and no additional motion on that promise has occurred.
Local volunteers and organizations have been advocating and dealing to assist maintain homeless folks fed and heat.
Now they’re calling on the mayor’s workplace to face the music, in order that they actually introduced the issue to her entrance door.
“There was many of us who spoke at the budget deliberations in December, we’ve been writing everyone, we’ve been taking all these steps and we’ve been hitting roadblock after roadblock,” MacLellan mentioned. “So, now we’re making sure (they) can’t ignore us anymore and that (they) can’t ignore the folks that are living here.”
Local volunteer Tamara Co mentioned they made it a protected area for the homeless as there have been points with folks getting kicked out of sure areas. She mentioned there are roughly 30 individuals who keep on the encampment.
“I’m here to support and I know that they’re trying to help the homeless and they’re trying to talk to the people at City Hall (to) house some of these people because everyone deserves to have a roof over their head,” she mentioned.
“It’s a basic necessity.”
Regina Mayor Sandra Masters mentioned the council has not met once more on the problem when it comes to the report coming ahead final yr.
“We’re fully aware of the dollar value … the city council not accepting responsibility for what is a provincial and federal government issue,” mentioned Masters.
“Our partnership remains the same. We continue to work with the Ministry of Social Services. We do fund the rent for covering the temporary shelter … we’re looking and working with the ministry and RT/SIS right now in terms of finding permanent space.”
Mayor Masters mentioned she doesn’t suppose that tents in public areas in the end is an appropriate end result or resolution for anybody.
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