Homeless advocates are calling for long-term solutions and compassion from municipal and provincial leader, as cities across Saskatchewan deal with a growing homelessness crisis.
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cities → call → crisis
The issue was discussed by city councilors in the province’s two largest cities on Wednesday, just days after a large homeless encampment was taken down in Saskatoon.
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encampment → discuss → Saskatoon
Approximately 80 tents and structures were removed as part of coordinated city of Saskatoon response.
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tents → remove → response
Mayor Cynthia Block said the city continues to work with the provincial government to find solutions.
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city → say → solutions
“We need low barrier access to sheltering.
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We → need → sheltering
We need low barrier access to housing with the appropriate wrap around supports that suit the people that need that housing,” said Block.
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Block → need → housing
The Saskatoon committee discussed winter homelessness services, including a women’s daytime and overnight drop-in center on Idylwyld drive, scheduled to open in November.
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committee → discuss → November
City councillors also noted that work continues on a shelter on 31rst street, which is set to open next year.
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which → note → street
But with thousands in Saskatoon still unhoused, more emergency and transitional housing options are needed.
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options → need → Saskatoon
Regina city council has been watching Saskatoon as that city deals with their own challenges.
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city → watch → challenges
Pepsi Park has been home to a growing homeless encampment in Regina since early August.
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Park → grow → August
Regina City Councillor Victoria Flores said she would not support removal of that encampment, displacing approximately 150 people, without first having a plan in place.
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she → say → place
“Unfortunately, the resources are limited.
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resources → limit → ?
And that’s kind of where we are stuck.
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we → ’ → ?
We’ve been having more positive conversations with the provincial government lately.
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We → have → government
And soon we will have an answer on what’s going to happen, where do we go from here?” said Flores.
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Flores → have → answer
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Housing advocate, David Fineday, was one of the about 120 people forced from the encampment in Saskatoon.
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advocate → get → Saskatoon
He tells Global News he has lost too many friends experiencing homelessness over the years.
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he → tell → years
That’s why he’s speaking up now.
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he → ’ → ?
“Especially when they are dying on your floor, in your back alley, good friends that you’ve known for years, man….
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you → die → years
,” said Fineday.
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Fineday → say → ?
Chloe Olson addressed the committee on Wednesday, saying the city did more than just remove an encampment; it pulled apart a community.
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it → address → community
She said the removal solved nothing; it only relocated the problem as many of those staying at 20th street and Avenue K South just ended up scattering throughout the neighbourhood.
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many → say → neighbourhood
“They might be swept under the rug and a little less visible now, but I assure you there are still there,” Chloe OIson
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I → sweep → you
who addressed the city’s governance and priorities committee meeting on Wednesday
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who → address → Wednesday
She said the tear down doesn’t resolve the challenge with homelessness; it just relocates it.
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it → say → it
“With the winter and cold months approaching, there are concerns about existing availability for shelters, and that has been at the forefront of my mind,” said Olson.
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Olson → approach → mind
“I worry about my family on the streets.
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I → worry → streets
I worry about my friends, and in generally, I worry about the entire community as they suffer through this together.”
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they → worry → this
The city has said it is working with individuals impacted.
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it → say → individuals
But despite repeated efforts, only two people accepted offers of support for housing the day the tents were removed.
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tents → repeat → housing
The Saskatchewan NDP said the provincial government needs to be held to account.
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government → say → account
Saskatoon-Westview MLA April ChiefCalf said she wants to see more tracking and transparency on how people have been helped.
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people → say → tracking
“We want regular public reporting on how many people have been housed, how many are sleeping outside, and what supports are being provided,” said ChiefCalf.
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ChiefCalf → want → reporting
The Ministry of Social Services responded to our request via a statement saying for a response to the NDP call:
“Municipalities play a lead role in responding to encampments and coordinating local outreach efforts.
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Municipalities → respond → efforts
The ministry supports these efforts by working alongside municipal and community partners to connect with individuals to provide income supports and emergency shelter options.
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ministry → support → supports
This includes referrals to available shelter spaces, friends and family, detox services or hotels if available shelter spaces do not meet their needs.
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spaces → include → needs
Ministry staff also help make connections with other human service providers and community-based organizations providing services such as mental health and addictions and medical supports.
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staff → help → health
But Fineday said the situation is urgent and much, much more help is needed.
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help → say → ?
“Is there any legal way, is there a place they can designate for us?
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they → designate → us
…and 7 more, not listed.
The Aporia
