Arkady Shaw, a Saskatchewan woman on income support, claims the program's benefits are not enough to cover basic needs such as rent and utilities, forcing her to go into debt after losing her home due to her landlord selling it. Shaw says she has spent over $3,000 in recent months to keep a roof over her head and is planning to file a complaint with the provincial ombudsman. According to University of Saskatchewan professor Sarah Buhler, many people in Saskatchewan are facing similar struggles, citing systemic issues and unaffordable housing as contributing factors. The Ministry of Social Services states that SIS benefits have increased consistently over the past five years and now allow clients to keep more income from various sources, but Shaw disputes this, saying it's not enough.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-04,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Arkady Shaw, a recipient of Saskatchewan Income Support (SIS), claims that the program's payments are insufficient to cover basic needs. She says that while receiving SIS payments, she and her family were forced to lose their home when the landlord decided to sell it. Despite recent upgrades to the program, Shaw asserts that SIS payments only cover rent and groceries, leaving recipients unable to save for a security deposit or cover moving costs. As a result, Shaw has gone into $5,000 in debt over two weeks to secure temporary housing. She and her spouse, who suffered a workplace injury as a red seal gas fitter plumber, have found a new rental house in Neville, but Shaw worries about the limitations of living remotely without a car and with frequent medical appointments.
Written for “Saskatchewan Welfare Controversy” on 2026-09-05,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
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Leaning score -0.55 for article 3699 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-09-04
A Saskatchewan woman is telling her story of losing her home while on Saskatchewan Income Support (SIS), and despite recent upgrades to the program, she says it still isn’t enough.
asserted
it → tell → program
When Arkady Shaw’s landlord decided to sell the home she was renting near Zealandia, Sask. with her spouse and two step-children, she says SIS payments were not enough to find another place to live.
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payments → decide → place
“On the SIS stipend, you’re only really given enough to pay your rent and buy some groceries.
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you → give → groceries
You’re not able to put together a security deposit.
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You → ’re → deposit
You’re not able to get moving funds,” Shaw said.
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Shaw → ’re → funds
“I’ve had to go almost $5,000 into debt just in the last two weeks just to make sure that I have everything there for the kids and a roof over our head.
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I → have → head
I have already spent over $3,000 just last month because we didn’t have a roof and we needed a motel.”
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we → spend → motel
Shaw says she has idiopathic left-side weakness and her spouse suffered a workplace injury as a red seal gas fitter plumber.
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spouse → say → plumber
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They found a rental house in Neville, but without a car and frequent medical appointments for her and her spouse, Shaw worries about the limitations of living remotely.
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Shaw → get → limitations
“If we hadn’t been given a sweetheart deal on renting a house about 10 kilometres out the back roads, we wouldn’t have had a house at all.
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we → give → house
Out here, if you don’t drive, you’re locked in place,” Shaw said.
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Shaw → drive → place
Her mother-in-law helped her make the trip to Regina to file a complaint with the provincial ombudsman over her claim she is being repeatedly denied access to further benefits.
uncertain
she → help → benefits
University of Saskatchewan professor Sarah Buhler says many people in Saskatchewan are facing similar struggles to Shaw.
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people → say → Shaw
“One of the biggest reasons for eviction is tenants falling behind on their rent and systemic issues.
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tenants → fall → rent
We all know that housing is getting very unaffordable and incomes are not keeping up,” Buhler said.
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Buhler → know → ?
The Ministry of Social Services said in a statement that “the Saskatchewan Income Support program helps people in need meet their basic needs while they become more self-sufficient and independent to the best of their abilities.
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they → say → abilities
Core SIS benefits provides for basic needs.”
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benefits → provide → needs
“SIS benefits have increased consistently over the past five years.
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benefits → increase → years
Recent improvements also allow clients to keep more income from gifts, e-transfers, employment earnings and select federal benefits including the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit and the Canada Disability Benefit.”
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clients → allow → Benefit
Shaw is still planning to submit the complaint but was not able to submit her documentation to the ombudsman because of an issue at the office.
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Shaw → plan → office
“I hope I can speak out loud enough for everyone in all of our situations right now because there are more of us every day,” Shaw said.
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Shaw → hope → us
She says she doesn’t know when she might be able to come to Regina again to submit her complaint in person but is hoping to take a stand for others in her position.
uncertain
she → say → position
