Sask. government has paid Regina’s Coachman Inn $243K since 2022 to house social services clients

WATCH: The Saskatchewan NDP is calling on the province to stop using the Coachman Inn in Regina to accommodate those who use social services.

The Government of Saskatchewan has spent $243,940 since 2022 to house social services clients at the Coachman Inn and Suites in Regina.

The figures were shared by the Saskatchewan NDP during an event outside the motel Thursday morning.

The Opposition is calling on the province to stop using the Coachman Inn to accommodate those who are homeless – citing the state of its rooms and the motel itself.

“They shouldn’t be putting their clients up in conditions like this. If they came out to actually view it and see it, they would see what condition it was in,” Opposition MLA Brent Blakley told reporters.

“They need to get out and inspect these and view them for themselves.”

• ‘Deplorable’ conditions at Regina’s Coachman Inn highlighted by social services client

A social services client recently shared her experience with the motel – claiming she and her daughter encountered bed bugs and cockroaches during their stay.

“It’s disgusting. Not only is this a bad use of taxpayer dollars, it’s downright cruel, and no way to build a strong province for the future,” Blakley added.

In a response sent to CTV News, the Ministry of Social Services said the Coachman Inn was inspected by the provincial health authority on Aug. 18 and Aug. 26 – adding that the agency was working with the motel’s owner to comply with public health guidelines.

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In terms of the cost, the NDP says that from 2022 to 2024, the province spent $331,361 at the Sunrise Motel, $303,182 at the Thriftlodge and $243,940 at the Coachman Inn – for a total of nearly $880,000.

During the same period, $935,338 was spent on hotels in Saskatoon.

Blakely said the practice wouldn’t be needed if more action was taken to reopen social housing units in the two cities.

“The use of hotels wouldn’t be necessary if we could get some of these social housing units and Sask. housing units online,” he explained. “We have over 2,000 provincewide, of vacant Sask. housing units … We have 440 units in Regina alone, sitting vacant.”

In its statement, the ministry defended its use of hotels to provide safe accommodations for those seeking emergency or longer-term supports.

“Due to the complex needs and challenges that some clients are facing, the ministry may have limited options on where to place them, as they may no longer be accepted at certain emergency shelters or hotels due to past behaviours or issues,” the statement read.

The province’s procurement process includes renting a block of five rooms in both Regina and Saskatoon at a fixed rate per night along with a damage deposit guarantee for each stay.

Due to an increased need, the province is currently looking to expand its accommodations to eight rooms per night.

“Regardless of the hotel choice or method used to procure the room, the ministry works with our hotel partners to ensure the safety of our clients while we work with the client to transition them to more stable housing options.”