The sun has temporarily set on an initiative that, for several months, has served as a beacon of hope for Meadow Lake’s less fortunate. A small crowd gathered Tuesday morning (April 16) at the Meadow Lake Homeplate Shelter Coalition’s emergency shelter for a seasonal closing ceremony. April 15 marked the final night of operations at the facility, at least for the time being. “The Homeplate emergency shelter opened Dec. 1, 2023 and has provided overnight shelter for people in need within our community,” explained SunDo Hyun, minister at Grace United Church in Meadow Lake and a Homeplate Shelter Coalition board member. “Last night, April 15, marked the end of operations for the 2023- 24 winter season. This morning, we gather not just to mark the end of the season, but to celebrate our achievements and to give thanks for all the support we have received from the wider community.”
Last year, the City of Meadow Lake agreed to co-fund, on a monthly basis, 40 per cent of the deficit needed by Homeplate to operate the shelter up to a maximum of $10,000 per month. Meanwhile, the Meadow Lake Tribal Council committed $40,000 to the project and the Government of Saskatchewan invested $48,800 to fund five emergency shelter spaces. In total, up to 20 spaces were supported locally through the province, city, MLTC and private donors. Hyun, meanwhile, went on to express the board’s gratitude for these contributions, as well as the work provided by shelter staff. “Together, we renew our commitment to making improvements for the next winter season,” he added. Also on hand to address those in attendance was shelter manager Marlene Laliberte-Bouvier who spoke about day-to-day operations, the impact the shelter has had as well as stories that have touched her heart.
“This has been a very good experience, as well as a very challenging one, especially for a community like Meadow Lake,” Laliberte-Bouvier remarked. “I served as director of the North Battleford homeless shelter for two years. Homelessness is everywhere, and we also dealt with a lot of addiction, a lot of mental health issues, but we had more resources in North Battleford. When I came here Dec. 1, I had limited resources. We did have a lot of support, though. For such a small community, the support has been amazing.” Laliberte-Bouvier acknowledged the Door of Hope, private donors, the Meadow Lake Tribal Council, the RCMP, her staff members and others for the commitment each has provided. “I’d also like to thank the community, of course, as well as the board members,” she continued. “This was all new to the board members and I commend them for their efforts. We made it work, but I wish we could stay open. Due to funding, however, and permits we have to close. It broke my heart this morning to come here, to see my homeless people and have them ask me where they’re going to sleep tonight. What am I supposed to say to that?”
Laliberte-Bouvier went on to say this is a goal she, along with the board, hopes to work toward. “We need to open this place,” she said. “In North Battleford, we were open yearround, 24/7. I had 28 staff members (in Meadow Lake there was one full-time staff member and three part-time) and it was successful. That is what we need to see in Meadow Lake.” She also provided some numbers indicating how many people utilized the Meadow Lake shelter from December to April. December saw 106 visits to the shelter, EMS was called on 10 occasions and the RCMP were called seven times. In January, 158 people visits were made to the shelter, there were five EMS calls and seven RCMP calls. February saw 112 visits and four RCMP calls, while March saw 196 visits to the shelter, there were two EMS calls and three calls to the RCMP.
“In April, we had 38 visits to the shelter, and this is only the middle of the month,” Laliberte-Bouvier said. “But, we also had four RCMP incidents. Two weeks ago we started giving our clients notice we were closing. We wanted to give them at least two weeks to try to find alternative places to stay. I’m praying they do find those alternatives.” Laliberte-Bouvier also said, given the shelter’s hours of operation from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., it did not give her much in the way of opportunity in terms of dealing with clients one-on-one. “We have rules and regulations, of course, and, sadly to say, there have been a few clients who were banned,” she added. “Either they were non-compliant or they threatened staff members or other clients. Safety comes first for everyone.”
Looking ahead to next season, Laliberte-Bouvier said a major priority is staff recruitment. “I need staff,” she said. “The staff we have are tired, I’m tired. Twelve-hour shifts are long, and these are graveyard shifts. We also need to be able to prepare food here at the shelter. I know there’s a procedure, but we need to be able to do that here. Staff also need professional development training… The shelter also needs to remain open on weekends and holidays.” Laliberte-Bouvier also made it known how happy she is Meadow Lake opened a homeless shelter. “It’s been a challenge, it’s stressful, but I was glad I was invited to come here because this is my community,” she said. “It takes a community to run a shelter and it’s been a pleasure to work here these last few months. I’m hoping to see the shelter open again this fall. We’ve got this.”
According to interim Homeplate board chair Bill Sclater, funding remains a challenge as the shelter looks to reopen in the fall. “I believe the province will come through for us again, while we still need to sit down with the city and MLTC, and again look at fundraising,” Sclater noted. “But, to be open more hours and to find additional support, we’re going to need a lot more funding. It’s very expensive to run a shelter, but it’s also something that’s very important.”
In closing, Meadow Lake resident Flo Campbell – who in years past operated the local branch of The Salvation Army – expressed her gratitude for the effort so many have put into establishing an emergency shelter locally. “I would like to thank the board, the staff, everyone – for the first year, you’ve all done an awesome job,” Campbell said. “I know somewhat of all the paperwork and red tape you have to go through. What’s down here in your heart and what can happen legally are miles apart, but thank you so much for the work all of you have done. Bless you for the work you’ve done and for the people you’ve helped. We’ll all keep putting our heads together and opening our pocketbooks to see what we can do to carry on. We can only do a little bit at a time, but bless you for the work you’ve done.”