Saskatoon’s Ward 3 city councillor is calling on the provincial government to step up and assist in dealing with homelessness, addictions and mental health in the city.
David Kirton submitted a letter to Premier Scott Moe and ministers Everett Hindley, Gene Makowsky and Paul Merriman that highlights the importance of services like the Emergency Wellness Centre, which relocated to the Fairhaven neighbourhood, but also brings attention to the impact that service is having on the surrounding community.
Kirton offered some solutions in the letter, noting that a review of the centre is needed, and a working group consisting of the province, the city, Saskatoon Police Service, the Saskatoon Fire Department, the Saskatoon Tribal Council and others needs to be created.
“Many of the problems we are seeing in Fairhaven and the Confederation Suburban Centre are associated with individuals who are unhoused and have complex needs (addictions, mental health etc). This is not limited to Fairhaven, but in fact can be seen throughout Saskatoon,” Kirton’s letter states.
In an interview with Global News, Kirton said he has received complaints from people about feces in apartment hallways across from the Wellness Centre.
He noted he has heard more complaints about needles found in bus shelters and nearby parks since the shelter opened.
“We heard they won’t be holding provincial ball tournaments in Reid Park this year because they are too concerned about needles in the park,” Kirton said.
“Superstore has now got police working within the store. I know that Canadian Tire has had to hire more security and I know that Confederation Mall has had to hire more security as well, so we can’t ignore the fact that there has been an effect.”
Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Mark Arcand said he was blindsided by the letter and a review of the shelter is unnecessary.
“I have no part in this,” Arcand said. “I’m really tired of David Kirton and his antics and riding my coattails in the work that we are doing.”
“We don’t need a review. The province is funding us based off their review. We met all of the criteria.”
Arcand said that Kirton could have stood up during one of the wellness centre’s four open houses to address the concerns of his constituents.
“He was in there,” said Arcand. “He never said a word, but he has concerns.”
Kirton said through consultation with other agencies in Saskatoon, he noted there are roughly 100 people on the streets in Saskatoon who have complex needs, and either can’t get into a shelter, choose not to stay in a shelter, or are getting kicked out of the shelters.
Kirton said he wants the province to fund facilities for these 100 people, noting they need to be smaller and spread throughout the city.
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“Finding a solution for these 100 people will make it safer for the people inside Saskatoon’s shelters, safer for business and property owners in Fairhaven and safer for the people with those complex needs. It is an important step that I hope the Saskatchewan Government will recognize,” the letter states.
The City of Saskatoon has not contributed funds to the shelter’s operations since it moved to the Fairhaven neighbourhood.
Arcand called upon Kirton to “invest in the complex needs of our city” and make a motion at council to invest $1.5 million into the Emergency Wellness Centre. He said the funds would help maintain staff, fight inflationary costs, and support legal bills.
He said he hopes the letter does not hurt his relationship with the province, which helps fund the wellness centre’s operations and programs.
Kirton suggested bringing back the Saskatchewan Assistance Program so Saskatoon’s homeless could have greater success in renting apartments.
“The government said they want these people to have greater independence,” Kirton said. “I fully support that, but we can’t even talk about independence if we are facing eviction.”
The program guarantees that landlords receive the rent and utility money they are owed.
In an email to the Saskatchewan Government, Global News reiterated Kirton’s requests and asked for a response regarding his letter.
An email statement from Minister of Social Services Gene Makowsky only stated that Saskatchewan’s Income Support program is sustainable in fighting homelessness and didn’t acknowledge that he received a letter.
“Thanks to a growing economy, the government of Saskatchewan has been able to make sustainable increases to SIS benefits two years in a row. Based on feedback from clients and CBOs the ministry also reinstated direct payments of shelter benefits for rent, utilities and security deposits on behalf of clients with complex needs back in fall of 2021,” the email stated.
It stated the government provides funding for emergency shelter beds around the province for individuals with complex needs.
The email did not say whether the relationship between the provincial government and the Saskatoon Tribal Council will be impacted by Kirton’s letter.
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