The Metis-Nation Saskatchewan funding for the Battleford shelter ends on September 30th, but the Lighthouse Supported Living has agreed to lease the shelter to the Battleford Agency Tribal Council for six months. The MN-S took over funding six months ago after the Provincial Metis Housing Corporation switched its funding to programs in the north.

Lighthouse Board Chair, Jerome Hepfner, says during that time, the Lighthouse will work on strengthening community partnerships in the Battlefords and Saskatoon, evaluating current homeless programming, and developing a long-term sustainable plan to ensure the risk of closing the doors in the future will be mitigated. A community impact meeting will be scheduled in the coming weeks to bring together all housing and community service providers to understand what programs the Lighthouse may have to suspend, and to establish a coordinated community effort to fill gaps that may exist in the Battlefords area.

The BATC is giving the shelter a new name, Miywasin Kikinaw – a beautiful place. Battleford Agency Tribal Council Chiefs state in a news release, “It is our hope to work with clients on a case-by-case basis, while focusing on health, wellness and future transitioning. This has been close to our hearts. We have provided funding to the Lighthouse for over a decade. It makes sense to all of us at BATC to lead a new, more innovative approach to addressing homelessness in the Battlefords.”