Square One Community Receives Municipal Project Designation
A group wanting to establish an emergency woman’s shelter in Moose Jaw will for all future donations be able to issue tax deductible receipts thanks to the City of Moose Jaw.
On Monday afternoon Council agreed to designate Square One Community Moose Jaw Inc’s homeless project as a municipal project.
By doing so Square One will be able to access grant funding and all future donations to the group’s homelessness project will receive a tax receipt for income tax purposes as Revenue Canada recognizes municipalities as qualified donors.
Speaking in front of Moose Jaw City Council on Monday evening chairperson of Square One Community Moose Jaw Inc Della Ferguson said the group has already been active in the community and has already undertaken some fundraising projects.
Della Ferguson, chairperson of Square One Community Moose Jaw Inc addresses council - MJ Independent photo
Ferguson said Square One was born in 2021 from the COVID Community Response Committee’s where housing - especially emergency housing - and the supports around it were seen as needed as part of the Committee’s work.
“Our vision is that everyone in our community has the opportunity to have their housing and basic needs met,” she said, adding “a team of compassionate community members comprise our board and have been working hard at building infrastructure.”
The group so far has contracted a contractor, held life skills classes, built a web-site, developed a clothing deposit repository, created a volunteer bank, applied for charitable status, had a house donated anonymously, hosted luncheons, raised funds and met with City officials and the local MLAs.
The group has already applied for charitable status.
The group also raised $33,000 for the John Howard Society’s “My Place” program.
“Everything we have done is an effort to fill in the gaps regarding homelessness that are yet to be met in our community,” Ferguson said.
The group has identified three areas to coordinate efforts on:
1. the need for an emergency women’s shelter to support women while finding stable housing
2. the need for a central navigator system modelled after the Medicine Hat program
3. the need for a warming centre
“With your help through the municipal project status we will be able to apply for more grants and build the funds needed to do this vital work,” Ferguson said.
“The greatest of a community is how we treat our most vulnerable”
Councillor Crystal Froese thanked Ferguson and the group for coming forward adding “I know charitable status can take awhile in the interim you need something for that solution.”
“This committee is so active and trying to fill this gap that we have in the community and it has been a real learning curve for everyone who has been involved. It is an absolute roll up your sleeves active working committee,” Councillor Froese said.
Council voted unanimously to designate the homelessness initiative as a municipal project until December 31, 2023. Either side can ask to rescind the designation with 90 days notice.
There is a cost of $1 to $2 to the City for the issuance and mailing of tax deductible receipts. The Department of Financial Services said they have the financial capability to pay for the issuance and mailing of all tax deductible receipts.
At the present time the City has ten active designated municipal projects. The list of designated projects is as follows:
1. Moose Jaw Arts in Motion
2. Murals of Moose Jaw
3. Saskatchewan/Moose Jaw Festival of Words
4. Tourism Moose Jaw
5. Burrowing Owls Interpretive Centre
6. Northwest Community Association
7. Hillcrest Golf Club Inc. (expires December 31, 2022)
8. Moose Jaw and District Sports Hall of Fame (expires December 31, 2023)
9. Iron Bridge Sport Court (expires December 31, 2024)
10. Pickle Ball Moose Jaw (expires December 31, 2026)
The group did not present any public financial statement as part of their presentation.