A new group home has opened in Kerrobert, offering four adults with intellectual disabilities the chance to live with support in their hometown.
MLA for Kindersley-Biggar Kim Gartner was in Kerrobert Wednesday on behalf of Social Services Minister Terry Jenson to mark the official opening of the home, operated by Prairie Branches Enterprises Inc. The provincial government is providing about $500,000 annually to support its operation.
“Fostering strong, inclusive communities for individuals with disabilities remains a priority for our government,” said Jenson in a statement. “We are proud to partner with Prairie Branches Enterprises to support the operation of this group home. Through collaboration and dedicated support, we aim to enhance the quality of life for individuals with disabilities and ensure they have access to the necessary resources to thrive in our communities.”
The new home offers 24-hour supervision and support with daily living for its four residents. It is the first of its kind in Kerrobert but the eighth group home operated by Prairie Branches across west-central Saskatchewan. Executive Director Marissa Merkel said expanding into Kerrobert has been a natural step after the agency launched a vocational program in the town in 2020.
“We are very excited about expanding our residential services into the community of Kerrobert,” Merkel said. “We have been operating a vocational program here since 2020 and have experienced a ton of positive support from the community. We are hopeful that the positive momentum will continue and are grateful to be a part of Kerrobert.”
Merkel said the new home reflects Prairie Branches’ mission of helping people remain in the communities where they’re known and supported.
“Homes like this are super important in our rural communities because it gives folks the opportunities to stay at home, to stay in their home communities surrounded by people who know them,” she said. “They’re known when they go downtown to the grocery store, they’re known at the local hockey games, and their families are able to visit or they’re able to go to their family’s homes often.”
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The project was made possible through a partnership between the Ministry of Social Services and Saskatchewan Housing Corporation, Merkel said, noting that local families and Prairie Branches' board of directors played a key role in advocating for the home's development.
Founded in 1983, Prairie Branches Enterprises supports about 50 individuals across Wilkie, Biggar, Unity and Kerrobert through group homes, day programs, and supported living. The organization also employs around 150 staff in the region.
Beyond housing and day programs, Prairie Branches helps its residents find meaningful work and stay involved in the community. In Kerrobert, residents of the new home are already employed locally, some making and selling candy bags and dog treats, while others do lawn care or help clean the local funeral home.
Merkel said residents often participate in events both within their town and with people supported by the agency in other communities.
“We have that built-in support between towns,” she said. “There’s often an event, and then everyone gets together. It gives our folks a lot of opportunity to connect.”
While there are no immediate plans for expansion in Kerrobert, Merkel said the agency remains open to future possibilities.
“We try to keep people in their own communities, their home area,” she said. “That’s always been the goal.”