The City of Regina plans to continue providing support to nearly 200 people living at an encampment while it works towards developing a more permanent solution. Since early July, close to 200 unhoused individuals have been living in tents at Core Community Park, located in Regina’s Heritage Neighbourhood. “We don’t want to see anyone stay out in the cold in the winter. That is not a place for anyone to be in, it is not safe,” Ward 6 Councillor Victoria Flores told CTV News. “However, our goal is to make sure that transition goes from where they are at right now to a warm place because the last thing we want to do is just kick people out of that space with nowhere to go.” Flores said council’s strategy to tackle the issue is to provide “support in place” rather than taking down the tents – something that happened last week in Saskatoon. “It breaks any type of community trust that we have been able to build,” she said. “Staying outdoors in an encampment it’s not the solution, but also removing people for the space that they’ve been able to set themselves at is also not the solution. That’s why we’re working so hard to try to find a space.” Regina city council has reached out to the provincial government to secure additional funding to support providing 24/7 warming shelters in the city. Conversations between both governments are ongoing, according to Flores. “It is my understanding that we’ve put in a proposal to the provincial government, and those conversations are heading in a positive way,” Flores said. “I’m just waiting to hear back from what’s going to come out of that.” In a statement to CTV News, Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Social Services said homelessness is a “complex issue” that it takes very seriously, and continues to partner with municipalities to address the problem. “Municipalities play a lead role in responding to encampments and coordinating local outreach efforts. The ministry supports these efforts by working alongside municipal and community partners to connect with individuals to provide income supports and emergency shelter options,” the statement read. “The Ministry of Social Services has been actively working to connect with individuals and offer services and supports to individuals who will accept those services.” In addition, the ministry said it has invested up to $38.9 million for homelessness services across the province in 2026 alone – including $10.24 million in Regina. “This year, the province is investing up to $38.9 million for homelessness services across the province with $18.02 million for services in Saskatoon, $10.24 million in Regina and $2.63 million in Prince Albert,” the ministry’s statement read. “As part of this funding, $7.04 million goes to community-led responses in Saskatoon, Regina and Prince Albert. This supports outreach services, winter warming spaces, daytime drop-in services and other services to meet community needs.”
