The provincial government is investing $3 million of new funding towards mitigating the homelessness crisis in Saskatoon.
Representatives from the Province and the City gathered for the announcement at the Delta Bessborough Hotel in Saskatoon on Thursday morning.
Premier Scott Moe says the money will be allocated directly to the City, which will then work with the Ministry of Social Services to determine which community-based organizations it will be divided between.
He adds that the days of playing catch-up with ad hoc funding are over, and it’s time the province and the city work to get ahead of the issue with predictable, consistent funding.
“Ten years ago, the conversation wasn’t there. Five years ago, the conversation around ad hoc funding was being discussed, and what you’re seeing today, very much due to the advice we were provided by the City of Saskatoon council through Mayor Block, is to solidify some of that funding.”
Mental Health and Addictions Minister Terry Jenson explains that the money is an enhancement that will benefit select drop-in service operators for the next 365 days, but a long-term strategy is also in the works, so stay tuned.
Saskatoon Mayor, Cynthia Block, commended the province for their willingness to listen, communicate and collaborate.
“It makes an enormous difference when we work together and listen, not just to each other, but to the people we represent, and the people who will need access to the services.”
Block says no specifics on how the money will be allocated have been discussed yet, however, the goal is to create a seamless transition between the closing of summer drop-in centres and the opening of winter warming shelters.
“Part of the announcement today means we are moving forward with our winter warming plan, because we know we’ll have (funding) 365 a year, we don’t have to talk about winter warming or summer warming. Some of that programming will look a little bit different, but we at least know that it will happen.”
She was unable to confirm that all the winter warming shelters Saskatoon had organized last year would be reopened this season.
