The head of Downtown Saskatoon (DTNYXE) says the area businesses have grave concerns about another shelter being located in the downtown core of Saskatoon.
At a special meeting of City Council Thursday morning, Saskatoon City Council approved a temporary shelter, to be used for the next five months, on 1st Avenue North beside the Hilton Garden Inn. It has been outlined as a wellness centre for an expected fifty homeless people.
Saskatoon City Councillor Troy Davies made a motion, which was passed, that in addition to providing the building and paying for upgrades to the fire alarm system, the city would also assume the occupancy costs for things like heat and lights.
Davies says while this may be the jurisdiction of the Government of Saskatchewan, if something isn’t done, they could very well end up in a situation similar to Regina where they had a tent community, but it would be outside Saskatoon City Hall.
“They looked everywhere to try to find to try to find this outside of the downtown area because as Tribal Chief stated that is where we see the opportunity to find additional drugs, alcohol, fentanyl, what we’re seeing downtown. So that is something I don’t think that we need to have a committee on. I think it’s been made very clear by Tribal Chief, he does not want this downtown.”
DTNYXE Executive Director Brent Penner says this will have an unintended negative impact on downtown and that the onus is clearly on the Province to deal with the issue. But that a solution has fallen to the city speaks to a level of disfunction and indifference.
Councillor Randy Donauer says he does agree with the plan because of who is heading up the effort, that being the Saskatoon Tribal Council, and the fact that it’s urgent and that it’s temporary.
He also says he agrees with the city not just offering up the building but the occupancy costs as well, however, Donauer says he’s concerned about the City of Saskatoon creeping into an area that is not its jurisdiction.
“Because we do not have the money to fund social services and housing and mental health and addiction and health like the provincial government does, they have a much bigger tax base.”
He says if the effort by the City of Saskatoon can be viewed as a leap of good faith and be leveraged, he’s hopeful it would result in action and funding from other levels of government.
CJWW News spoke to Tribal Chief Mark Arcand following City Council’s decision to green light the project Thursday. Chief Arcand says the hope is to open the facility Monday after doing a few last minute tasks including making sure that the fire alarm system is up to code. The plan is to provide shelter, bedding and food for up to 50 people during the winter.
Chief Arcand commends the City of Saskatoon for stepping up to cover the occupancy costs. “At the end of the day, it’s about helping people. When we looked at all the challenges about trying to find a facility, we (STC) couldn’t get anyone to donate, a church, a warehouse, whatever it may be. This is the only option that came forward, they’re (City of Saskatoon) a great partner.”
The facility will also provide in-house laundry and an area where people can congregate and watch TV. The STC still hasn’t heard from the federal government in response to their grant application seeking $1.4 million to help cover the costs associated with the facility.
