The City of Regina (City) has been approached by the YWCA requesting the City support the YWCA’s ICIP funding application for the construction of healing space and a ceremonial lodge, as part of its Center for Women and Families building project, by approving the use of up to $4M in ICIP funding from the City’s allocation of ICIP funds. Further, the YWCA is requesting the local portion of the ICIP funding (26.7% or $1.07 million) be funded by the City of Regina. YWCA’s request is attached as Appendix A.
Financial Impact
ICIP funding is split 40% funded by the federal government, 33.3% funded by the provincial government, and 26.7% funded by the municipality or locally. To date, the City has spent (or committed) $194.54 million of the $326.54 million in ICIP funding that has been allocated to the City of Regina, leaving $132 million in uncommitted funding. These funding numbers include both the federal, provincial, and municipal/local portion of ICIP funding.
On March 23, 2019, City Council approved a list of projects to be considered for ICIP funding (CR19-23). The investment required to fund the entire list of projects exceeds the amount of ICIP funding allocated to the City.
As a result, approving the use of up to $4 million of ICIP funds, from the City of Regina’s allocation of ICIP funding to support the YWCA construction of a healing space and ceremonial lodge will decrease the overall amount of uncommitted ICIP funding from $132 million to approximately $131 million. This reduces the amount of ICIP funding available to advance City capital projects.
Policy and/or Strategic Impact
The YWCA serves women who are coping with or fleeing violence and traumatic circumstances, a population that can be underserved by strategies that target the episodic or chronic homeless. The YWCA is designed to serve women and children prior to crisis for instance, prior to becoming homeless. The proposed facility strongly aligns with the City’s social development priorities that are outlined in the Community Safety and Well-being Plan.
Option A – Approve YWCA’s request of $4 million and approve the use of up to $1.07 million of City funds to fund the local portion of the ICIP funding requirement
Approve the recommendation as outlined in this report, except remove the condition that the YWCA fund the local portion requirement of the ICIP, and approve City funding of up to $1.07 million from the General Fund Reserve, to fund the local portion of the ICIP funding requirement. Using City funds to pay the local portion of the ICIP funding provides further support to the YWCA project and eliminates the risk that the YWCA may not be able to fund the local portion of the ICIP funding requirement.
Pursuant to the recently released 2022 Proposed Budget, the uncommitted balance of the General Fund Reserve is projected to be $21.3 million by the end of 2022, with the minimum funding level guideline for the reserve being $23 million. Approval of this option would bring the uncommitted projected General Fund Reserve balance to $20.2 million by the end of 2022.
Option B – Do not approve the YWCA’s ICIP funding request
City Council could decide to not approve the use of up to $4 million in ICIP funds from the City of Regina’s allocation of ICIP funding to support the YWCA’s construction of a healing space and ceremonial lodge.
The results of this decision will be shared with the YWCA of Regina. Should the request be approved, appropriate letters of support and applications through the Provincial ICIP program office will be completed.
The YWCA has supported the Regina community since 1910. Services provided include supported housing, shelters for women and families escaping violence and experiencing homelessness, emergency receiving shelters for children, childcare centres and many other programs to support vulnerable women and children in the community. The YWCA currently has 26 beds available to homeless women and children, with 14 more for emergency domestic violence situations.
The YWCA has a longstanding relationship and history of funding with the City. In 1968, YWCA constructed their current building at 1940 McIntyre Street on land owned by the City which was initially leased to the YWCA for 99 years at a rate of $1 per year. Later, in 1991, the City transferred title of the land to the YWCA so they could obtain mortgage financing with the caveat that the City continue to have an interest in the land should the YWCA cease operation or transfer to a different location.
As well, over the years the City has supported the YWCA through the Community Investment Grant Program (CIGP). In the past three years, a total of $193,000 has been granted to the YWCA. By delivering on several needs including emergency shelter, affordable housing, and community building, the YWCA’s Center for Women and Families aligns with common themes and pressure points as heard during consultations for the Council-directed Community Safety and Well-Being Plan.
In 2018, the YWCA notified the City that they were seeking to build a new Center for Women and Families. With the new Center for Women and Families, the YWCA intends to maintain those existing spaces as well as add 14 affordable or social housing units in the new building. The proposed Center will feature multi-purpose indoor space, Indigenous healing and ceremony lodge including family recreation areas and a community garden.
In selecting a location for their new facility, the YWCA approached the City in 2018 seeking title to City lands at 1915 and 1955 Retallack Street (former Victoria school site). In January 2019, City Council approved the gift of 1915 and 1955 Retallack Street to the YWCA for the new facility (CS19-5). The value of these properties was appraised in 2018 at $2,089,000.
As part of this process, the City also transferred its interest in the land of the current YWCA building at 1940 McIntyre Street to the new location on Retallack Street. The YWCA will receive all the proceeds from the sale of the property of McIntyre Street, including the land.
YWCA Request
On September 5, 2021, the YWCA sent a letter to the City Manager requesting up to $6 million from the ICIP program for the Center for Women and Families construction project.
On November 2, 2021, the YWCA followed up with an amendment to the original request, for $4 million from the ICIP program, specific to the construction of the healing space and the ceremonial lodge portion of their capital build. The reason for the amendment was to avoid potential federal stacking restrictions in the ICIP program. The original and amended letter are included as Attachment A.
The YWCA estimates the total capital cost for the new center at $54 million, which is a $9 million increase from the original estimate of $45 million, relating specifically to a larger contingency related to the increase in construction materials.
The YWCA states in their letter that “YWCA Regina has secured 39 per cent (21 million) of required funding to date. An application to Infrastructure Canada has been submitted for 15 million and we anticipate announcement in the Fall. If we are successful with this funding and have confirmation of City of Regina ICIP funding, we will be able to start construction. In addition, we will be submitting an additional application to CMHC in the Fall for $5 million. YWCA Regina is requesting “up to $4 million” from the City of Regina ICIP funding because if the cost of construction materials decreases, we are committed to requesting a lower amount.”
Further, the YWCA provides the following government funding projections:
Government Funding Projections
Municipal Government (City of Regina) | |
Gift of Land (Confirmed) | $2 million |
ICIP Request (Requested) | $4 million* |
TOTAL | $6 million |
Provincial Government (Saskatchewan) | |
SCIP (500k Confirmed) | $1 million |
TOTAL | $1 million |
Federal Government (Government of Canada) | |
CMHC Co-Investment (Confirmed) | $6 million |
CMHC Co-Investment for Women Fleeing Domestic Violence (Requested) | $5 million |
Green and Inclusion Buildings (Requested) | $15 million |
TOTAL | $26 million |
*$4 million out of Regina’s ICIP allocation (funded 40% federal government, 33.3% provincial government, and 26.7% local/municipal funded)
Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) Funding
ICIP projects are cost-shared with the provincial government, municipalities, Indigenous communities and other partners. 40 per cent of ICIP funds come from the Government of Canada, 33.3 per cent from the Province of Saskatchewan and 26.7 per cent from the City of Regina, or from other local sources. In addition, projects under ICIP funding must be completed by October 1, 2027.
The City of Regina is able to access a total of $326.54 million under the various streams of the ICIP:
· $130.64 million – Government of Canada (40 per cent)
· $108.80 million – Government of Saskatchewan (33.3 per cent)
· $87.10 million – municipal/local (26.7 per cent)
The City of Regina has spent $194.54 million to date:
· $164.89 million – City of Regina share of the Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant Renewal
· $27.08 million – Globe Theatre
· $2.57 million – Transit Driver Shields and Quantums
There remains $132 million available in ICIP funding allocated to the City of Regina.
The YWCA has asked for ICIP funding specific to the healing space and ceremonial lodge portion of their new facility. This will ensure they meet all federal stacking eligibility requirements. The 26.7 per cent local funds can come directly from the City or they can be sourced locally and applied as the local portion of funding.
Should the funding request be approved, it is recommended that the 26.7 per cent local portion of funds be sourced by the YWCA directly. The YWCA has indicated funding the local portion of the ICIP will be challenging should other federal funding they have applied for not be approved, or they have difficulty selling their existing building and obtaining proceeds from the sale of that building.
Final approval will be required from the provincial and federal governments before the project can advance. City Administration will work directly with the YWCA and the Province of Saskatchewan to support the initiative and ensure the proper approvals are in place.
On January 28, 2019, City Council approved (CS19-5) the gifting of City land at 1915 and 1955 Retallack Street to the YWCA.
On March 23, 2019, City Council approved a list of prioritized projects to be considered for ICIP funding.
Respectfully submitted,
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