A new project for the homeless could soon be created in North Battleford.

City council voted this week to buy two vacant lots downtown for a pocket housing project.

People who are homeless or at risk of being homeless could live there and get help learning how to do things like cook and pay bills.

The goal is to begin construction this summer and have people move in by about Christmas time.

It would be financed by the city, province, federal government, and BATC.

City Manager Jim Toye is still waiting for all the funding to materialize, but he’s hopeful that will happen. He says it will be run by an independent board that includes representation from the area’s two tribal councils, city council and a local church.

The cost of the project is pegged at $718,000.