Not long before temperatures plummet, City Council has secured a warming shelter for Saskatoon’s vulnerable population.

Administration identified a 5,490 square foot building at 325 Avenue C South, between the Salvation Army and Beehive Flooring, as the best fit for the job. The building, which is a former restaurant, will cost $805,000, but the federal government’s Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampments Initiative would be used to make the purchase.

Gord Taylor with the Salvation Army says having a warming centre so close to an emergency shelter creates a dangerous surrounding neighborhood. The City’s planning director Leslie Anderson says they searched for two years, but options were limited.

“This building, the location was a concern for us going in and remains a concern and will be something that needs to be addressed, but this was the only site that we were able to find that met the criteria with enough space, enough suitability, to be able to operationalize.”

She adds that without this purchase, there would be a service gap for vulnerable women, as the Salvation Army specializes in dealing with men. The Government of Saskatchewan will be responsible for funding a service provider to operate the property.

City Council also unanimously voted in favour of Administration reporting back on operational impacts, including input from operators and residents.