Regina’s homeless youth to get shelter

Homeless youth in Regina will soon have a safe place to go.

Andrew Scheer, Member of Parliament for Regina-Qu’Appelle, was on hand for the announcement of a new youth shelter in collaboration with Street Culture Kidz Project Inc. The federal government, through their Homelessness Partnering Strategy, is funding over $1.2 million to build the facility which will be completed by March 2011.

Kim Sutherland is the CEO of Street Culture Kidz. He says this initiative is very important for the province.

"When it comes to young people on the streets, it’s tragic that they are having to what we term ‘couch surf’," he said. "It’s a bizarre experience that we see everyday in the young people that we serve, in what they’ll do to get a good night’s rest."

The new shelter will have at least 15 emergency beds for homeless youth between 14 and 18 years old. It will go a long way to help Saskatchewan youth who feel like there is no where to turn.

"We’re the only province in Canada that doesn’t have an emergency youth shelter," Sutherland said. "There’s an irony in that, as we are often noted as being the most generous, the warmest, the whole Saskatchewan welcome."