REGINA — The provincial government has given a financial boost to the Provincial Approach to Homelessness, with an additional $20 million over three years.
The announcement was made at the Legislature by Social Services Minister Terry Jenson alongside Regina Mayor Chad Bachynski.
As part of the announcement the City of Regina is receiving an additional $1.1 million dollars in provincial funding, described as supporting their priorities to expand homelessness services in the community — in this case, additional warming shelters.
This is included as part of the $20 million overall amount, which itself is new funding that was not in the 2025-26 budget. The new funding is also in addition to the initial PATH investment of $40.2 million announced in 2023.
“The $40.2 million was used to really identify and stand up services and capital in the first two years,” said Minister Jenson. He said this additional funding of $20 million for the next three years “will be used to support the foundational work that's already been done, because we've been able to identify where the greatest needs are and those needs are being addressed. “
According to the province’s announcement, the additional $20 million will go to the following areas:
- $12 million in predictable multi-year funding to municipalities to support community-led priorities and strategies;
- $4 million for up to 40 new emergency shelter spaces, located at existing shelters based on demonstrated need; and
- $4 million for creation of up to 60 new supportive housing spaces, with more trusteeship services being added to support individuals to transition to supportive housing.
“This additional investment will build on programs and services already in place that will provide multi-year funding for community-led responses to homelessness, expand emergency shelter capacity, and support transitions to supportive housing,” Jenson said.
“It was through ongoing discussions with our partners that led to the areas chosen for this additional investment and focus on supporting services and initiatives that are demonstrating progress and having a positive impact.”
Mayor Bachynski confirmed that the $1.1 million announced for his city is specifically going towards warming shelters, and to make sure there is 24-7 coverage so people have somewhere to go at all times of the day.
He said the amount represents a “significant increase from previous years and I want to thank our provincial partners for recognizing the scale of need and stepping forward with this commitment.”
Bachynski also welcomed “predictable and multi-year funding,” saying it will allow service providers, working in collaboration with the city, to “establish new initiatives while building upon existing momentum.”
The provincial announcement comes in advance of an important city council meeting in Regina the same day, in which the homeless issue will be a top priority.
“Later today, city council will consider a report outlining Regina's role in addressing homelessness,” said Bachynski. “That report highlights the need for strategic co-ordination at the municipal level, particularly focused on residents living in encampments.”
Bachynski said that as part of next steps, council must “approve accepting this funding and moving forward with enhancing warming spaces in our city. Options are being proposed throughout Regina to ensure that people have safe, warm places to go throughout the community and during the winter months. This was a specific need that we heard from local service providers. This is about dignity, safety and compassion. It's about ensuring that every resident of Regina has access to the supports they need.”
Saskatoon had a similar funding announcement in September that Jenson said is part of this package as well. Jenson said they will “continue to work with our other municipalities based on their demonstrated need and what they're identifying as a municipality, as well as some of our partners that are providing those services.”
While the funding is being welcomed by Regina, Bachynski described what they were doing as a “reactive” approach to the issue. “We need to have safe places for people to go 24-7 when we have winters that get down to minus 30 minus 40 degrees. That's the reality.”
There was acknowledgement that there is much more work that needs to be done to get ahead of the homelessness issue. As for longer term solutions, Bachynski said they would continue to work on what supports are available from both the province and the federal government in their new budget in terms of housing.
“I know there is a lot more to be done for sure and I think I'm thankful that you know Minister Jenson has been very open to these conversations and this is the exact kind of conversation we're having,” Bachynski said.
“You need to start somewhere and we can't bite off everything all at once. So I think having this as a step to try and get people to a safe place right now as we go into winter, but continuing to make sure that we look at that funding model and that support model and where those resources need to land in terms of ultimately getting people to a place where they can not be living on the street, be living in supportive housing.”
“I think we have to really keep in mind here that this is more than just providing three-year stable funding to our partners as well as our municipalities,” said Jenson, “but this is also part of a multi-ministry approach where we have the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions that are working on additional recovery spaces around the province. We also have the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety that are working on some initiatives there as well. What this is about is is about providing opportunities for individuals who find themselves in this situation to be able to connect with either an outreach worker or connect with one of our shelter operators or with really you know the different resources that are out there to provide that opportunity to that individual to begin the path of leading a healthy life and to be able to have that stability in their life once again.”
