Projects in Regina get funding

Page 3

Three Regina organizations will receive over a million dollars through the National Homelessness Initiative (NHI) to help them in their efforts to combat homelessness in the city.

Regina Metis Sport and Culture Inc., a non-profit organization established in 1995, will receive $973,633 under the Urban Aboriginal Strategy component of the NHI for construction and renovation costs for a new community centre that will serve the Metis community. The new centre will address homelessness issues, as well as issues relating to families, women, youth and children.

The City of Regina is also contributing to the project, providing an in-kind contribution of $140,095 to cover the cost of the building, the land, and a five-year tax exemption.

The same strategy component will give $80,744 to 24-hour Child Care Co-op Ltd., which has been operating for 25 years. The co-op, which supports parents while they search for employment or complete training or attend school, will use the funds at both of its two locations to buy play and learning equipment, develop play yards, provide advocacy and transportation for clients, and deliver programming for parents and their children.

"Our new parent support worker will work with our families to provide transportation, to secure housing appropriate for young families and parent education opportunities.... We recently expanded our infant and toddler program by 18 spaces to try to meet the needs of our communities," said Donna Rice, the executive director for the co-op.

Five-year-old Street Culture Kidz Project Inc. (SCK) will get $25,500 through the Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative component of the NHI to enhance the support services it offers. SCK participants use arts, business and life skills programming to develop exciting programs for their peers in a safe environment.