6 days Ago By Brody Langager
Proposed Saskatoon drop-in centres — aimed at giving homeless people a place to stay — were discussed in-depth at Wednesday’s governance and priorities committee meeting. “People don’t have a place to go,” said Mayor Cynthia Block, adding that the warming centres have now closed until next winter, and that Prairie Harm Reduction and two libraries also temporarily closed. “I just don’t think this is the formula that works anymore.
” Two motions came forward after a report updated city councillors on the work being done to find permanent shelter spaces in the city. The motion from Block asked city administration to work with the province and stakeholders to ensure unhoused people have access to a safe place at all hours and all seasons, until a longer term strategy around housing can be found. “It’s reached a crisis level, and I don’t know what else we can do except to do what is obvious,” Block said.
“We need to make sure people have a place to be, and we need to make sure it is safe.” The motion went unopposed from committee members, with only Coun. Troy Davies not in attendance.
The report to committee noted that the 40-bed temporary enhanced shelter along Pacific Ave. opened on April 1, adding that the search for a new, permanent 60-bed shelter has been whittled down to two options. The exact location of the two potential spots was not shared, but city administration said the preferred site will be announced in the coming months.
Report data showed that the point-in-time homelessness count grew year-over-year — 260 people reported in 2008, 550 people in 2022, and 1,499 in 2024. It also gave statistics about the complex-needs emergency shelter along Idylwyld, showing 653 people were admitted between August 2024 and January 2025. Some individuals had to be transferred to police custody or hospital, but the report said most clients accepted transportation to other supports and services after their 24-hour period at the shelter.
City administration fielded dozens of questions from councillors looking to further understand the shelter situation. Coun. Randy Donauer wondered what costs were a factor in the search for new shelter spaces, and if city council should approach the province for additional funding.
The shelter project has a set budget, city administration said, and noted that some vacant lots were considered in the search. “Is it possible that we need to tell the province the amount of money that they’ve allocated isn’t reasonable for what we’re trying to accomplish? It costs more money to buy a house than it did two years ago,” Donauer said. City administration said that may be a conversation they need to have.
Block asked whose job it is to make sure people have a place to go. Navigation hubs are being considered, city administration said. City manager Jeff Jorgenson said the city believes that the province is responsible for social services, but said Saskatoon has stepped in to help co-ordinate these efforts.
He said they’ve already mentioned the possibility of a drop-in centre similar to the warming locations, but something that could run during the day as well and throughout the year. “The problem is growing faster than we can implement solutions,” Jorgenson said. It was learned through questioning that city administration vetted hundreds of potential locations.
Jorgenson said they looked at every location in the city that was for sale, as well as any place that was brought before the city. He noted that some places were immediately taken off the list, while others required more consideration. Coun.
Robert Pearce wondered if there were any issues at four of the five shelters located in Saskatoon that weren’t in Fairhaven. “Have you seen severe issues?” Pearce asked. Levi Mitchell, manager for the Mustard Seed’s Pacific Avenue shelter, said there were no major issues in the area.
Mitchell added that was largely due to the co-ordinated effort with organizations like Saskatoon police and fire. Pearce said he found it interesting that other areas weren’t reporting issues, but that there were still problems in Fairhaven. He put forward a motion for a report to come back on comparative resources that fire and police services are providing to shelter locations across the city and any associated barriers, which went unopposed.
RelatedTank: Province blasted for 'fantastically' failing Saskatoon on homelessness'The human suffering is staggering': City council discusses homelessness plan'My jaw hits the floor': Amidst drug crisis and violence, two Saskatoon libraries temporarily closed The Saskatoon Star Phoenix has created an Afternoon Headlines newsletter that can be delivered daily to your inbox so you are up to date with the most vital news of the day. Click here to subscribe.With some online platforms blocking access to the journalism upon which you depend, our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark thestarphoenix.
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