Red Lake Homeless Shelter scrapped

Tribe has to decline $195,000 grant

By Michael Barrett

Freelance Writer

            “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we had to decline the grant for the Homeless Shelter,” Secretary Roy stated at the September 9, 2003, Red Lake Tribal Council Regular Meeting.

            The grant was for $195,000 and would have covered the costs associated with constructing the building.

            Roy said the reason they had to decline the grant was because the Tribe did not have operating funds available to open and run such a facility at this time.

            She said Housing Executive Director Jane Barrett responded back and tried a couple different things, one of which was an extension of time such as the summer of 2004 where the Tribe could find out where they were financially and maybe have funds to cover operating costs, but it couldn’t be arranged.

            Secretary Roy explained that the best way that they could do it was to admit that there were no funds available to open such a facility and cover all the operating expenses.

            “So that will not be happening in the near future,” Roy said.

            “But there is a chance that we could–it’s just being put off a little for now,” Chairman King added.

            This grant was awarded to Red Lake in 2001, with groundbreaking ceremonies taking place for the new Homeless Shelter in January 2002 at a site overlooking the lake by the Chemical Health Office complex in Red Lake.

            The building would have been about 3700 square feet in size, one floor, and it would have held within its walls 8 bedrooms with a capacity of 18-26 beds. Also, it would have houses a communal living room, dining room, kitchen, laundry and storage space, a controlled entry system, and office space for Shelter employees. The plans also listed a play area for children.