SaskatchewanThe Elizabeth Fry Society in Saskatoon has started a new program looking to stabilize women who are at risk of homelessness or addiction. Program offers micro-grants to help women with rent, damage depositsAlex Kozroski · CBC News · Posted: Oct 02, 2025 1:45 PM EDT | Last Updated: 6 hours agoNicole Obrigavitch, executive director of the Elizabeth Fry Society of Saskatchewan, says she hopes the Homes not Handcuffs program can stop the cycle of criminalization before it starts. (Travis Reddaway/CBC)The Elizabeth Fry Society of Saskatchewan has started a new program looking to stabilize women who are at risk of homelessness or addiction. The Homes Not Handcuffs program is a peer-led community initiative that connects women to treatment and housing. It offers a one-time grant intended to pull women out of risk of eviction, or help them get into new housing.After disbursing the grant, the society follows up after 30, 60 and 90 days to help the recipient with treatment or finding other sources of funding, such as Saskatchewan Income Support.The Elizabeth Fry Society is a non-profit organization that serves women and gender-diverse adults who are criminalized or at risk of criminalization. For women in the criminal justice system, it helps by assisting with steps such as bail and release plans, as well as reintegration. But the society’s executive director, Nicole Obrigavitch, said she noticed there was a gap in their services in respect to supporting communities and women who are at risk of criminalization.”I think that that just shows the need. The homelessness went up 255 per cent last year,” Obrigavitch told Saskatoon Morning host Stephanie Massicotte.”As somebody that lives downtown, I can tell you that the homelessness rates look like they’ve risen even more, so I think that any program like this that can provide funds for people to maintain their housing or to get housing is absolutely needed.”Saskatoon Morning9:33Homes not Handcuffs is Saskatoon program trying to keeping woman out of jail and in their homesAs the homelessness crisis continues to get worse in Saskatoon, a program is hoping to help women and gender-diverse folks stay housed. Homes Not Handcuffs offers one-time emergency money for rent, utilities or damage deposits, and it’s run by the Elizabeth Fry Society of Saskatchewan. Host Stephanie Massicotte speaks with Nicole Obrigavitch, the Executive Director at Elizabeth Fry, and Chey McDonald, the program coordinator of Homes Not Handcuffs .Statistics Canada data shows that Indigenous women in Saskatchewan have an incarceration rate 28.5 times higher than non-Indigenous women, the highest disparity in the country. Data also consistently shows Indigenous women make up more than 80 per cent of incarcerated women in the province.”We would rather provide diversion programs so that we can keep people out of institutions rather than helping them on the back end once they’ve already been incarcerated,” Obrigavitch said. “That just adds another barrier for someone, once they’ve had a criminal conviction.”Cheyenne McDonald, the Homes not Handcuffs program co-ordinator, said she sympathizes deeply with the applicants.”One, specifically, I know that she was left without electricity for about two months, with her children,” said McDonald.”When she found out about the program and applied for it, we provided her support. I built a relationship with her and she just expressed so much gratitude.… It’s stories like that that just keep the fire in me going, because everybody deserves a safe home. Everybody deserves to have a roof over their head, food on the table.”McDonald said applicants first go through an intake process with Elizabeth Fry, then sign a separate application and a contract, providing documentation showing they need a damage deposit or financial help. She said the program is structured as a micro-grant, and they can’t help everyone.”Hopefully bringing awareness to this can show that there is a high need for housing and housing assistance, and just wrap-around supports in the community for individuals who are struggling out there.”ABOUT THE AUTHORAlex Kozroski is a reporter with CBC News in Regina. He has also worked as a reporter for Golden West Broadcasting in Swift Current, Sask.With files from Saskatoon Morning
Homes not handcuffs: Elizabeth Fry Society program helps Sask. women stay housed
