Aboriginal families struggling with HIV/AIDS in Saskatoon now have a place of refuge where they can access much needed services thanks to a newly opened home.

Stewart House, which has been open for about five months, held its official opening Thursday morning.

The $450,000 home includes the City of Saskatoon, Clarence Campeau Development Fund and the Homelessness Partnering Strategy as funding partners.

The Central Urban Métis Federation Incorporated oversees the home and President Shirley Isbister says HIV/AIDS is a serious issue afflicting the Aboriginal community in Saskatoon and it is good to see partners coming together to make the initiative a reality.

“It’s huge how many people that they’re working with on an individual basis, like it’s scary, and when we start talking about comparable numbers to Nicaragua, that’s got to be scary for all of Saskatoon,” she says.

Isbister says the home offers a number of services to families including ensuring their children get to school, helping those afflicted with the disease get to medical appointments and making sure they take their medications.

She also says one of the priorities of Stewart House is to help reunite women with their children.

“This contact will be a partnership with the Ministry of Social Services because our goal is that we can move the families and then the children will be returned from foster care.”

The location of the home is not being released to protect the safety of the families living there.

There are currently two families living in Stewart House.

It is named after Lorraine Stewart for her work on behalf of HIV/AIDS in the community.