A new group home in Watrous will now allow four individuals with intellectual disabilities a safe living space.
The home is operated by the Interlake Human Resources Corporation (IHRC) and received support from the provincial government with $1.4 million in construction funding from the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation, the Ministry of Social Services is providing approximately $505,000 in annual operating funding.
Two individuals who previously resided in the IHRC’s group home in Nokomis have made the move to the new facility in Watrous, along with another resident who has moved into the Watrous facility. The process to add a fourth person to the group home is currently ongoing.
Inside the new home, residents will receive personal care supervision, support and other programming based on everyone's plans.
Mayor of Watrous John Gunderson says the group home is another facility the community is fortunate to have.
“We got the state-of-the-art Watrous and District Health Complex with the recently opened long term facility attached to the hospital, we have a number independent living facilities within town that various people have the choice of where they can go and live, and now with the opening of this fantastic group home, here we are, we got a place for four individuals it just adds another piece to the puzzle of offering the type of care that’s needed for places like Watrous and the district.”
IHRC Executive Director Angela Silzer says the group home will offer new possibilities for its residents.
“Having this home in Watrous enables the residents to attend our active day program, increases the potential and opportunity for employment and volunteer experiences, and offers a wide variety of recreational, social and leisure activities to take part in. The group home truly allows for a greater sense of community inclusion and an enriched life for our individuals."
Currently, IHRC operates a four-space group home and provides community-based day programming and supported living services for 16 individuals in the Watrous area.
As a part of the grand opening, each resident of the group home was presented with a quilt from Prairie Patchwork Quilters Guild.