Construction begins on Saskatoon youth group homes

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Shovels broke ground Thursday on the site of two new group homes for youth in Saskatoon.

EGADZ’ new homes in the Parkridge neighborhood will each have 5 spaces for youth struggling with mental health and addictions.

Rose Campeau, 16, serves on the EGADZ youth advisory committee. The youth advisors will play a role in designing and operating the new homes.

Campeau says EGADZ has helped her, and now she’s excited to help others.

“I’m excited to see people come from bad situations to really make that turn around and do good for themselves, get a job, get their proper education, and really thrive,” Campeau told media Thursday.

EGADZ executive director Don Meikle says having input from youth with lived experience has been beneficial.

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“Society sees these kids as less desirable — these kids see these kids as our next generation in waiting,” Meikle said.

Meikle said the new spaces will help alleviate some demand, as his organization’s other group homes have dozens of people on waitlists.

Construction of the new homes is expected to cost $1.5 million, with the provincial government committing $650,000 and federal government ear marking $400,000.

“We know that if given the opportunity to better their life through having a stable place, that the results in the end are much better,” said Terry Jenson, minister of social services.

Once construction is complete, the provincial government said the Ministry of Social Services and the Saskatchewan Health Authority will each provide roughly $694,000 in annual funding to support operations.