Province and the City of Regina Announce Warming Space Funding for Carmichael Outreach  

The City has committed $100,000 in funding for this winter in support of the City’s Cold Weather Strategy, as approved by Council at 2024 budget deliberations. The funding will be used to make a warming space available no later than November 1, 2024. With additional support of a one-time $300,000 grant from the Ministry of Social Services, the City will grant these combined funds to Carmichael Outreach to ensure a warming space is available this winter. 

Funding provided by the City of Regina and Ministry of Social Services will enable Carmichael Outreach to continue delivering the life-saving, overnight support they delivered last winter. The funds will allow the organization to operate an 80-person overnight warming space, offering a safe space for community members to get out of the extreme weather. 

Tyler Gelsinger, Executive Director of Carmichael Outreach said, "Carmichael Outreach expresses heartfelt gratitude to the City of Regina and the Government of Saskatchewan for their generous funding of the warming space, which was made possible through the invaluable support of the Warm Welcome Coalition."  

“The City of Regina is grateful to the Government of Saskatchewan for their continued investment in our Cold Weather Strategy,” said Mayor Sandra Masters. “Through our partnership with Carmichael Outreach, we are working to ensure that residents can access essential services and safe, warm spaces during the colder months.”

"The Government of Saskatchewan is contributing $300,000 to support the City of Regina's Cold Weather Strategy in delivering this critical service for people experiencing homelessness in our community,” said Social Services Minister Gene Makowsky. “This collaboration will ensure vulnerable individuals in Regina have access to a warm, safe space along with connections to essential supports during this coming winter."   

The Cold Weather Strategy is designed to work with existing services to support situational awareness and coordinate efforts among human service sectors and community-based organizations to ensure that unsheltered individuals and other populations in vulnerable contexts have access to warming spaces and services during the winter months. 

Carmichael Outreach is a long-standing Community Partner of the City of Regina and offers critical services to individuals experiencing houselessness. Their location is a vital component to the Heritage Community and has become a community hub for individuals seeking support and services.  

The City of Regina remains committed to the safety of all residents, and to continued collaboration with the community and other levels of government to address the needs of our most vulnerable residents. 

 In October, the City will make city-wide warming spaces information available at Regina.ca.