Mtis NationSask. to fund North Battleford Lighthouse emergency shelter until September

Mtis NationSaskatchewanhas decided to provide funding to The Lighthouse Supported Living in North Battleford.

The emergency shelter announcedin late February that the North Battleford location would close, effective April 1.

The organization cited "substantial funding changes" as the reason for the closure.

A partnership with Provincial Mtis Housing Corporation an affiliate of Mtis NationSaskatchewan fell through, leaving the emergency shelter with not enough money to operate.

The housing corporation provided funding through the Reaching Home Program,which is federally funded, according to MN-S.

The corporation received Lighthouse's recent application for funding, but decided not to provide the Reaching Home Program federal funding to the shelter.

After, Mtis NationSaskatchewan said it saw the need for Lighthouse to stay open, and decided to fund the shelter until September with its own COVID-19 emergency funds.

"The homeless are the most susceptible when it comes to COVID-19, and with no other apparent homeless shelters in the Battleford region, MNS will take up the challenge and fund the 37-bed facility," MN-S Housing MinisterRyan Carrieresaid in a statement.

Carriere said discussions are also underway to determine a path toward more substantial, community funding partners so that the shelter can operate indefinitely.

"MN-S recognizes the need for housing often becomes entangled in bureaucracy at the expense of those most at risk,"Christena Konrad, the governance body'shousing director, said in the statement.

"MNS sees the urgent need for these citizens within the Battleford region and will utilize emergency COVID money to ensure they don't fall through the cracks especially at a time like this."

In the meantime, MN-S said it is in discussion with theBattleford Agency Tribal Councilto look at ways to address homelessness.