Regina city councillors to bring motion to declare homelessness emergency

Four City of Regina councillors will present a motion to council on Wednesday to address the issue of houselessness and to declare it an emergency.

The issue of homelessness in Regina has been an important topic for residents and at executive council at City Hall.

Last year, city council passed a motion to eradicate homelessness, but no money was allocated to make that happen.

Recently, four City of Regina councillors will be bringing a motion at tomorrow’s meeting about this issue. Councillor Shannon Zachidniak said they will be bringing two motions to address homelessness in the city.

“What we’re proposing is that we need a short- and long-term plan in collaboration with other levels of government,” said Zachidniak.

“This has reached an emergency level in our community, and we do have data showing that between 2015 and 2021, according to our point in time homelessness count that the amounts of folks houseless has risen 110 per cent. And the problem has certainly visibly gotten worse since then.”

Zachidniak says they are now at a point where there is no clear plan that folks on council can see to address homelessness or tent encampments in Regina.

“It’s time for us to have a formal and public conversation about what should that plan be,” said Zachidniak.

“We certainly don’t want to be in a position where we have folks who are houseless in the streets in the wintertime and at risk of freezing to death. So, let’s all start talking. Let’s all communicate and figure out together what this plan should be.”