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(Meadow Lake Homeplate Shelter Coalition Corp./Facebook)
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Meadow Lake emergency shelter to stay open till May 31

Apr 4, 2025 | 2:33 PM

Those facing homelessness in Meadow Lake have been given a reprieve.

The temporary emergency shelter will extend their services to May 31.

“Their organizing committee (the Meadow Lake Homeplate Shelter Coalition Corp) had found some additional grant money through the province,” said Mayor Merlin Seymour.

According to the request for decision presented to city council in mid-March, the Coalition addressed what they had learned over their two winters.

“Based on that experience, along with a broader understanding of the needs of homeless people and the effects of homelessness and related social issues on residents and businesses, and the acquisition of additional support for their program, the Coalition wishes to update their operating plan,” read the request in part.

Seymour said that because the service, located at 215 1st St. E., met the criteria and found funding, the extension was approved right away. Currently, their permit allows for six months of operation and any permanent extension will require amendments to the zoning bylaw 2/2014.

According to the request, under the general section of the “Implications of Recommendation,” both the Coalition and Meadow Lake Outreach Ministries have told city staff of the drawbacks to shuttering the shelter and “Anecdotally, it appears that downtown businesses and public spaces benefit from the operation of the shelter,” read the report.

The shelter’s hours will stay the same from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.

“Just to get the venerable people off the street and a warm place to lay their head down for the night,” he said.

cjnb-news@pattisonmedia.com