Residents Report Deplorable Conditions at Regina’s Coachman Inn

Concerns regarding the living conditions at the Coachman Inn in Regina have been brought to light by a social services client, highlighting significant issues faced by vulnerable residents. Sonya Scales, who has been homeless with her 13-year-old daughter since June 2023, described her experience after being placed in the hotel through social services.

Scales reported that upon entering their room, they were met with a distressing environment, stating, “The conditions were deplorable. Before I even walked in there were people asking us to buy crystal meth. We opened the door and the smell was so sickening.” Inside the room, Scales claims they encountered visible cockroaches and bed bugs, as well as a mattress that was heavily soiled. She described the scene, saying, “As soon as I entered the room, the cockroaches are visible and they’re climbing on the furniture. The mattress is so black. Cockroach and bedbug feces.”

Calls for Action from Advocacy Groups

Ivy Kennedy, a councillor with the George Gordon First Nation and an advocate for social services clients, expressed growing concern over the state of the Coachman Inn. She noted that similar complaints have become more frequent over the past decade, stating, “In 1985 or [19]82, when I first started in community, we didn’t have the cockroaches or the fentanyl issue at the time.” Kennedy and other advocates are calling for decisive action, urging that the hotel either be permanently closed or removed from the list of approved accommodations for social services clients. “They got to do something. This government has to take this off that list no more and that’s what we want,” she asserted.

The situation also drew attention from political leaders. During an event in Regina, Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck expressed her alarm about the continued use of the Coachman Inn for housing social services clients. “I thought that the Coachman was closed,” she remarked. “Honestly, it’s my first response. All people in this province deserve dignity and deserve respect. I think this is the baseline.”

Government Response to Health and Safety Concerns

In response to the allegations, the Ministry of Social Services provided a statement to CTV News, explaining that a new process was implemented in March 2023. This process involves obtaining quotes from at least three hotels when securing accommodations in Regina, Saskatoon, Prince Albert, and Moose Jaw. The ministry emphasized the need to balance cost-effectiveness, safety, and availability when booking rooms.

The statement read, “Rooms have been booked at the Coachman Inn and Suites through this process when appropriate. The ministry expects service providers to meet health and safety requirements. If a client has a health or safety concern regarding the room, we will look to secure alternate, available accommodations as we work with the hotel to address those concerns.”

CTV News attempted to reach the Coachman Inn for comment but received no response from the hotel’s owners. A request for input was also submitted to the provincial health inspector, with CTV News still awaiting a reply at the time of publication.

The ongoing situation raises serious questions about the adequacy of accommodations provided to vulnerable populations and the responsibility of both social services and hotel operators in ensuring safe and humane living conditions.