With winter approaching, Sask. government announces $3 million in funding for drop in services for the homeless In Saskatoon

Emphasizing collaboration with the city, the Saskatchewan government has announced $3 million to fund additional drop in services for people who are unhoused in Saskatoon. “That is certainty of funding,” Premier Scott Moe said at a news conference Thursday, noting it will allow for services 365 days of the year. “The minister of Social Services and the city of Saskatoon are now going to work together to allocate this funding to service providers to best meet the community’s needs, and I think most importantly best meets the needs of individuals and families who require that service,” Moe said. The funding is in addition to the government’s Provincial Approach to Homelessness (PATH) funding of $40 million over two years. “Our government is responding to rising needs in Saskatoon by providing predictable and consistent annual funding and continuity of year-round service delivery to support people experiencing homelessness,” Social Services Minister Terry Jenson said. The premier said it was Saskatoon Mayor Cynthia Block who called for stable funding, saying it was key to addressing homelessness in the city. “Consistent support means we can better meet the needs of our most vulnerable residents—not just in times of crisis, but every day of the year,” Block said. Read more: Federal housing advocate says Indigenous people grossly overrepresented in Canada’s homeless population In spite of the PATH funding announced in 2023, Saskatoon’s unhoused population continues to grow. According to the last point in time (PIT) survey in 2024, there were 1,500 people living on Saskatoon streets.  Some agencies put the actual number closer to 3,000. This translates to approximately 5 homeless individuals per 1,000 residents, placing Saskatoon among the cities with the highest rates in Canada, according to the City of Saskatoon. Approximately 80 per cent of the unhoused in the city are First Nations, Métis or Inuit. The next PIT count in Saskatoon is Oct. 16. Continue Reading