The Saskatoon Tribal Council is looking at making their temporary wellness centre a permanent option for those in need of shelter in the city.

A building on 20th Street between avenues L and M is the location the STC is looking at securing for their permanent site. The building would need to be gutted and renovated prior to moving in. It’s expected the work would take 12 to 14 months to complete.

Tribal Chief Mark Arcand says the costs associated with the building is between $3 and $5 million dollars, including the price of land. The STC is currently negotiating with the property owner on working out a deal to secure the vacant building.

The STC is hoping the community would step up and help cover the costs. Chief Arcand adds he would like to see the wellness centre become the main shelter in Saskatoon.

“I think a lot of people are disgruntled with what is happening downtown. So I think if we can move it away and if the towers (Lighthouse) stay there, that’s fine, but if we take over the shelter piece, I think we’ll have a little bit more success in that area and move it away from downtown.”

In the meantime, the STC is seeking an extension for their lease of 145 1st Avenue North, where their temporary location is.

On Tuesday, the City’s Planning, Development and Community Services committee will debate the request to extend the lease until April 2023.

The current downtown location is operating at 75 beds a night. With the new potential location, Arcand hopes they would be able to provide 100 to 130 beds a night.

Since the downtown location opened its doors in mid-December, 7,235 beds have been used over those nights with 742 intakes. Fourteen families have been served by the wellness shelter since December 15th. Seven of those families have since been housed.

(Photo courtesy of Google Maps)