.

Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

THEBACHA/FORT SMITH - The Salt River First Nation commemorated the opening of its homeless shelter on March 31 to a packed house.

The 10-bedroom facility for the community's homeless men is being seen as a positive place for men looking to get clean and sober and to turn their lives around.

The Salt River First Nation Homeless Shelter opened its doors to the community's homeless men on March 31, at a jam-packed ceremony. As of Monday, the shelter – a clean and sober facility to help the community's homeless men turn their lives around – already had two tenants. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

With the future of the Salt River First Nation's leadership currently being decided by court appeals and in the poll booths, Helen MacDonald, program manager for the band office, said some of the shelter's policies were still be determined.

However, by last Monday, two men had already moved in.

"It's going well," she said.

Despite the uncertainty in the office, MacDonald said she hoped to have many of the shelter's programs in place in the next month.

Counselling will be available to shelter residents, including Alcoholic's Anonymous and a program designed to help men regain their on-the-land skills.

The shelter has a zero tolerance policy on drug and alcohol use and MacDonald said it is hoped the facility can be a transitional home for men dedicated to improving their lives.

MacDonald said the facility will take in men from the Salt River First Nation and Smith's Landing for now, and could then be opened up to Fort Smith residents "once those needs are met."

She said the men are put through a screening process before being approved for the shelter.

Cpl. Scott Young, of the Fort Smith RCMP, said he was at the opening.

"It was a good turnout," he said.

"We got a quick tour of the building and were quite impressed."

Each of the 10 bachelor rooms has a bed and dresser, while the shelter has a kitchen, dining room area and laundry room facilities.

Young said the RCMP views the shelter as a benefit to everyone.

"It will keep people off the street," he said.

"Obviously, we do have various people in the community who are without a home."

He said members of the public will often call RCMP about people who are intoxicated and sleeping in the street or in ditches.

"Hopefully, with this shelter, that will eliminate some of those issues and some of those problems," he said.

MacDonald said the shelter will fill a hole in the community for men in need. The Sutherland House currently offers shelter for women and children who are experiencing violence at home.

She said homelessness is a problem in the community but added "it's not something everybody talks about."

She said construction on the shelter began last fall.

"There was mention of it quite some time ago, but nothing really came of it just until the membership decided it was needed," she said.

The shelter will be staffed 24-hours a day and both short and long-term care will be offered to its users.

The men are supplied one meal a day and can bring in groceries and guests.

"They can have their friends visit as long as they're not under the influence," she said.

MacDonald said eventually, when the men living in the shelter get work, they will be expected to pay their own way in the home.

She said the men currently in the shelter are glad it is there for them.

"They are quite pleased," she said.