The provincial budget is still two weeks away from being unveiled, yet the news has already broke that Dorie's House won't be included in the money that will be dolled out by the Saskatchewan Party government for the 2018/19 fiscal year.

Last Thursday Shaun Hanna, the president of the Southwest Youth Emergency Shelter board confirmed that they had received the news in the form of a letter from the Minister of Social Services Paul Merriman stating that they had not been approved for provincial funding.

"We've reviewed the proposal put in, and we really feel that the coverage in the Swift Current area is adequate," Merriman told Swift Current Online. "We haven't really seen our numbers [in terms of a need in the area] change so I would have to say we won't be considering the proposal at this time."

The provincial government already funds two youth programs in Swift Current. According to the general revenue fund details from the government of Saskatchewan, the Fresh Start Program Inc. (JP's Place) was funded to the tune of $410,125 and the Swift Current Community Youth Initiative Inc. (The Centre) received $238,325.

"We want to make sure that we utilize the places like Fresh Start as well as I know there is The Centre in downtown Swift Current that also has both genders being able to stop in there," he said. "We haven't really seen a big push or a need for specifically women in shelters in the Swift Current area right now but if it's something that is made available to us we'd certainly consider it."

As far as the Saskatoon Sutherland MLA knew there is no shelter for teenage women in Swift Current or the southwest but did note Moose Jaw had one.

Although there won't be any funding from the province this year, Merriman did say they'd be open to the Southwest YES re-applying next year, and the answer would depend on the situation at that time.

"From the ministeries prospective if there is a need for this, and if there is a need for that, who can address that need," he explained. "Locally if that's Dorie's House or if that's an expansion of an existing community-based organization or a new one then we would look at that, but we want to make sure that we have the need before we build it."

The Member of the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly since 2011 reiterated yesterday that the government has never promised Dorie's House funding.

"There was no time from talking to my predecessor that there was any promise of government funding coming later on," he stated. "Like I said at the beginning if there are any proposals we review them and make sure and do an analysis on it to see what the need is in that specific area and then we look at possible funding from the government."

Earlier yesterday Tom Westbury, one of the founders of Dorie's house released a letter expressing frustration with the lack of funding and the government's reasoning.

Hanna said he doesn't there is anything in the contents of Westbury's letter that they can refute.

"Our position for Dorie's House is that any program that helps youth that is funded is a valuable service and that does include Fresh Start," Hanna said. "Fresh Start does provide a very needed service in terms of job placement, training, and long-term care they provided for youth when they do access JP's House. We do not want to be a us versus them and if anything Dorie's Hosue is about what a community can do when we unite together."

The provincial government will roll out its budget on April 10.

Swift Current Online is looking into confirmation and responses to various elements of the statement.