Businesses near Regina’s new permanent emergency shelter are calling on the city to address concerns surrounding public safety before the shelter opens this summer.
On Wednesday, Regina’s Executive Committee heard from various delegates who have businesses within a 250-meter radius of the new shelter – located at the former Eagles Club.
Concerns surrounding their clients’ safety and whether local businesses would be compensated financially, for providing additional safety measures such as security cameras, fencing and other surveillance, was addressed.
“I think we’re just being extra vigilant because the community’s in crisis,” said Wendy Miller, executive director of the Regina Heritage Community Association, referring the homelessness crisis in the city.
Miller added that the association would like to see the city keep an “open dialog” with businesses to address the ongoing issue, and to work with community-based organizations (CBOs) to deliver a successful project.
“I don’t think it’s an overnight project. This is going to be a constant development,” Miller expressed.
“It’s going to be pivoting and adapting as the community needs. We have to be mindful that none of us have ever done this before.”
Another delegate shared his concerns about the shelter being a responsibility for all neighbouring communities, specifically the city and business community.
“Our concern is community safety,” Dan Turgeon said, general manager of Town & Country Plumbing Heating Electrical.
“Also, finding a way to properly support the businesses in the area so that this public responsibility of having the shelter as part of our community isn’t borne directly on the shoulders of just a few businesses. That it’s a shared responsibility in the city.”
Turgeon said having additional safety measures in place would provide comfort for workers and clients in the area while the shelter co-exists.
“If we have a professional managed surveillance system in the community, we can create clear expectations for our new neighbors, and others in the community that we are a business community,” he said.
“We’re there for a purpose of serving our customers.”
After hearing the concerns, councillors added an amendment to develop a, “neighbours maintenance compensation program” for the business community.
“I think it’s important to measure what impacts we’re seeing to be able to, like [businesses] said, there might not be a need to do any of this if nothing has changed, but how do we know if anything has changed if we don’t have a base point,” Ward 6 Coun. Victoria Flores said during the meeting.
Deputy Mayor David Froh also told media what the city’s plan is to collaborate with surrounding businesses to provide a safe community for all, while supporting Regina’s most vulnerable.
“Until we fix the reasons why people become unhoused, we’ll need more shelters and we absolutely have to get this first shelter right,” Froh emphasized.
“So some degree of funding to ensure cleanliness and being a good neighbor will be required, and we’ll have to strike that balance to make sure that there’s some parameters and guardrails in terms of those dollars.”
“It’s critical that we get it right because if we’re honest with ourselves, it’s likely not to be the last shelter we will need.”
With the green light from the executive committee, the motion with the compensation program will be brought to city council on April 9 for final approval.
