As of April 1st, the Waskaa'igan Neegan Safe Warm Space on 1st Ave. NW will be chaning their hours as a result of changes in funding.
The site's new hours during the week will be from 6:00 PM to 8:00 AM, with 24 hour operation continuing on weekends.
Frances Chartrand, Northwest Métis Council Vice President, said this year's funding reduction was pretty significant.
"The last 2 years we receieved money from the federal government and we received money from Brandon Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation. So our money was expensed from the federal government, we're still applying for money, we're still meeting with the government, trying to get the money to offset so we can open it up again during the day...Brandon Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation, we've been working with them, we had a $400,000 agreement last year, and then this year it went down to $300,000," said Chartrand.
The Northewest Métis Council and partners have been operating the Waskaa'igan Neegan Safe Warm Space since 2022. The reduction in funding is a heavy blow, but all hope isn't lost just yet.
"Staff are working on various fundraising initiatives, and we're also applying to different foundations to see if we can get more money," said Chartrand.
For information about the Manitoba Métis Federation and ways to get invovled, click here to visit their website.
