Helping 100 people affiliated with gangs, leave and re-integrate back into society will be the focus of two groups over the next four years.
STR8 Up and the Regina Treaty Status Indian Services will provide outreach, intervention and prevention to help people leave gangs.
“STR8 UP is committed to helping gang members exit gang life,” STR8 UP founders Father Andre Poilièvre and Stan Tu’Inukuafe said. “This funding allows STR8 UP and its recovering members to work intensively with identified participants and will be delivered with the support of vital community organizations, notably: West Flat Citizens Group Inc. and Prince Albert Outreach Program Inc. in northern Saskatchewan.”
STR8 Up will provide outreach services in the central and northern regions of the province, while the Regina Treaty Status Indian Services will concentrate on the southern regions.
“When people are given appropriate opportunity, they can make true change, for themselves and their family,” RT/SIS Executive Director Erica Beaudin said. “The result is less crime and increased safety in our homes and communities which benefits all of us. We thank the Government of Saskatchewan for supporting our model of transformation which brings people beyond survival responses of poverty and violence.”
The two community groups will get over $4.5 million over four years to implement the program.
(Photo: Sask. Legislative Building. By Dan Jones)