Square One Receives Saskatchewan Housing Corporation Grant

By Robert Thomas

With the homelessness advocacy group Square One taking over space at the William Milne Place (former fire hall building on Fairford Street West) questions still surround how they will fund the warming centre and emergency shelter the group will set up in the space.

Plans which were discussed in-camera with Council’s Executive Committee despite the non-profit poised to receive public funding.

Something which was seen by the City as not a problem.

It’s a question MJ Independent has learnt - through a trusted source - was put to Square One by a delegation of concerned Downtown businesses.

Concerns, whether justifiable or not, some Downtown merchants have about the potential impact Square One’s centre will have on their businesses.

THE MOOSE JAW PUBLIC LIBRARY WAS DESIGNATED AS A WARMING CENTRE DURING THE WINTER FOR THE HOMELESS. SQUARE ONE’S NEW WARMING CENTRE ON FAIRFORD STREET WEST IS SEEM AS TAKING OVER THAT ROLE - MJ INDEPENDENT FILE PHOTO

To start their bricks and mortar project Square One has received funding from the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation.

“In April, Saskatchewan Housing Corporation provided a $20,000 grant to Square One to support services for individuals experiencing homelessness in the City of Moose Jaw,” Saskatchewan Housing Corporation said in a written statement.

Other government departments contacted did not confirm funding at this time.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) said in a statement they were aware of Square One but not participating in the non-profit’s operations.

“(We) can confirm that although we are aware of this program (SHA) we are not involved,” the SHA said in a written response.

According to a report published by Moose Jaw Today about Square One’s recent Annual General Meeting attendees were told “a lack of solid observational data was the greatest barrier to Square One’s funding applications.”

The group is planning on holding a Point In Time (PIT) Count - after cancelling an earlier PIT Count - at a future date in order to provide a more scientific homeless count number required by many grants.

It needs to be noted in the past MJ Independent has asked questions about the actual number of homeless people in the community and if the number of 107 (a figure being floated in the community) was in fact accurate. Questions at the time which were simply dismissed as irrelevant.