The 18-unit facility is located at 115 Columbian Place in the Pleasant Hill area of Saskatoon and is a partnership between the Saskatoon Tribal Council, the federal government, City of Saskatoon, and Saskatoon Housing Initiatives Partnership.

The unit is called  Īkwēskīcik iskwēwak (which means “turning your life around”).  The transition home will house women on probation and parole for minor offenses. Mental health and addiction services will be provided to help the women make positive adjustments through traditional and Western cultural support.

“Giving these women a chance to regain their independence and a place to call home is the right thing to do,” said Marc Arcand, Chief of the Saskatoon Tribal Council.

The facility will offer up to 18 months of support with programming focused on healing and wellness, education, training and employment, and cultivating positive family relationships.

“Right now, many women being released from custody face significant challenges in finding a safe and stable home,” said Charlie Clark, Mayor of Saskatoon. “This will help them get on a good path and give them a better chance to rebuild their lives, and reconnect and support their families.”

Each woman that enters the program is screened by the Province and facility employees prior to taking residence in one of the bachelor suites available. The housing facility is staffed and monitored on a 24/7 basis.