The Magazine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
Transitional Living in North Battleford
The Battlefords is an urban area in north-west Saskatchewan situated on Treaty 6 land shared with seven local First Nation communities. It is in a core area where Zion, North Battleford, finds its home.
Zion is active with many social and outreach ministries: community kitchens, addictions and parenting support groups, youth activities, weekly afternoon community mental health fellowship groups, food bank, etc.
Through these ministries, we realized that housing insecurity is a fundamental problem for many in our community.
DOING SOMETHING
The church felt called to “do something”… but what?” This question led Rev. Sheldon Gattinger to begin a time of prayer, study and discernment with the congregation. During Lent 2009, we intentionally began to consult with and engage Aboriginal/ Tribal leadership and government partners looking for synergies and opportunities to serve.
In the course of this study and consultation, an area of acute need was identified: transitional housing designed to support individuals moving from reserve land into the Battlefords to seek addictions treatment or educational opportunities.
Inspired by the need, a new not-for- profit corporation was established to advocate for the development of this project. North Battleford Transitional Living Initiative, Inc. was born—with the hope that it would be a community partnership rather than an exclusively congregational activity. A diverse and representative board of governors was formed with Gattinger serving as president.
Though the mission was defined, the path forward was still unknown. The estimated engineering and construction budget for a transitional living facility was 1.25 million dollars, a daunting amount for the congregation and committee.
After a time of prayer and discussion, Gattinger realized that he had access to two of the most powerful items in all of God’s creation: a telephone and a pen. Daily for three months, he wrote three letters or made three phone calls to anyone who might be able to help move the project along.
The city of North Battleford was the first to bless us through the gifting of two residential lots and engineering services. The Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs blessed us with their support, wisdom and a considerable financial donation to assist with operations.
Things progressed with financial commitments from the federal government through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. and the Province of Saskatchewan through Saskatchewan Housing Corp. Their contribution was a combined $425,000 through the Investment in Affordable Housing 2011–14 agreement. The Provincial Métis Housing Corporation also saw merit in our work, and contributed over $300,000 to the build.
Finally, we received a Saskatchewan Synod Compassionate Justice grant for $10,000. This money allowed us to furnish the facility and provide quality-of-life items.
We welcomed our first eight residents in Oct. 2014. In December of that year we hired a full-time housing co-ordinator to work with our clients.
FRIENDS, COMPANIONS
AND PARTNERS
We strive to walk with people as they are. Each resident commits to a personalized transition plan (sobriety, addictions counselling, education, life skills, family reunification, etc.) that will see them transition to healthy, stable, independent living. Our average length-of-stay for clients is 18 months.
Cost is always a factor for our population. We are proud that we are able to offer fully furnished private apartments for $345/month.
As a congregation, we pray for the residents. We collect and work to provide them with life essentials (clothes, food, household items, etc). The residents are our friends, our companions and our partners in this ministry.
Our transitional living facility has been in operation for three years. In that time, we have provided housing and support services to approximately 40 individuals. Given the design of our facility, we house only eight individuals at a time.
While there is much to celebrate, we are discouraged that our waiting list contains the names of more than 75 people that need safe stable housing in our community. Thankfully, efforts are underway to provide more secure affordable housing.
“One of the greatest experiences in ministry is to hand a previously homeless person the keys to their own home…to watch them grow, achieve goals and find joy in the new life that they have created,” says Gattinger.
—Rev. Sheldon Gattin
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