Della Ferguson was elected as president of Square One, which was established in 2021 with the mandate to provide clean, secure housing options to housing-insecure people facing multiple barriers.
The annual meeting was well attended, including Moose Jaw North MLA Tim McLeod and Mayor Clive Tolley, who both expressed their gratitude at being invited and pledged to support the efforts of Square One however they could.
The board of directors was elected at the beginning of the meeting:
- President – Della Ferguson (two-year term)
- Vice-President – Crystal Froese (one-year term)
- Treasurer – Sharon Bourdeau (two-year term)
- Secretary – Christine Boyczuk (one-year term)
- Director-at-large – Susan Karner
- Director-at-large – Lynn Kirk
- Director-at-large – Jill Lesuk
- Director-at-large – Anne-Marie Ursan
The leadership terms are staggered to provide continuity year-to-year.
Sharon Bourdeau reported that from Jan. 1, 2021, to Dec. 31, 2021, Square One had a total income of $12,778. Fundraising supplied the majority of that income, with donations a close second.
Expenses for 2021 totalled $3,450.65, leaving a balance as of Dec. 31, 2021, of $9,327.35.
Ferguson noted that the financial report didn’t quite tell the whole story. Bill and Laurette Keen’s Stronger Together initiative was supported by Square One, and all proceeds went to the My Place project at John Howard Society so that supporters could receive tax receipts.
As of the end of 2021, $22,788.21 had been donated through Stronger Together. John Howard Society is accountable to Square One for how that money is used.
Christine Boyczuk reported that the grants committee is applying for as many grants as possible. A Community Initiatives Fund grant award at the end of December — which will be in the financial report for 2022 — enabled the hiring of co-ordinator Ashley Florent, which the board regards as a major step forward.
After the formal agenda of the AGM was concluded, Ferguson adjourned the official portion of the meeting.
Afterwards, she followed up with an overview of Square One’s progress several months into 2022.
“While this reporting period takes us to the end of December,” Ferguson said, “much is happening since that time. This past year has been a discernment process in determining the gaps in service in our community regarding those living homeless or housing insecure.”
She said that community feedback indicated that a dedicated women’s shelter should be Square One’s priority going forward, but noted that they have reached out for hard data from fellow community-based organizations (CBOs).
The biggest development in 2022 was the anonymous donation of a house for use or sale by Square One. The house is currently being renovated, and Ferguson said it would be available for transfer by July 2022.
Potential partnerships for housing initiatives, development of a Life Skills program in partnership with Inclusion Moose Jaw, research into funding and staffing a women’s shelter, and an advocacy meeting with Mayor Tolley and city manager Jim Puffalt are some of the developments Ferguson outlined.
“Learning about the homeless situation we have in our city… has been a real eye-opener,” said Crystal Froese, city councillor and newly elected vice-president of Square One. Froese said that the generosity that has been shown, especially with the anonymous donation of an entire house, is an indication of the goodness of people in Moose Jaw.
“There’s a lot of confidence that’s being shown there, which I don’t take lightly at all,” Froese said. She added that partnerships with the province would be essential, and that Square One is looking to roll up its sleeves and get to work “to make sure that we don’t see anybody on the streets come this fall… that was our goal around this table, and so that’s what we’re working towards.”
Follow Square One on Facebook at facebook.com/SquareOneCommunityMJ to stay up to date with their activities.
