'Nobody's gonna be there': Saskatoon safe consumption site reducing hours amid funding crisis
Prairie Harm Reduction (PHR) is calling on the provincial government for support as it cuts six hours out of its daily operations because of a lack of funding.
As of May 1, the safe consumption site will close at 4 p.m.
“This was an incredibly hard decision,” said Kayla DeMong, PHR executive director.
“But the reality is, with hundreds of more people needing services, our building and our staff currently cannot manage.”
For several years, the site has operated from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
DeMong said PHR is seeing a growing demand, with 200 new individuals using the facility in the past few months.
“When we built this space… we anticipated about 30 people, and we’ve now tripled that and we just don’t have the space,” she said.
DeMong said the site needs about $450,000 to keep up with demand, but it currently has $65,000 in its operating budget. She noted the province does not fund the PHR, and it is supported solely through donations.
“I really do feel like it is the government’s responsibility to step in and make this better, and do what is actually needed to support this community,” she said.
The provincial government has never openly supported the harm reduction model, and over the last year has opted to contribute funding toward abstinence-based approaches.
In a statement to CTV News, the Government of Saskatchewan said it’s focusing on helping people overcome addictions and live life in recovery.
“That is why we are adding 500 addictions treatment spaces across the province to double capacity for treatment,” the statement read.
The province said it provides $2.2 million to PHR for outreach and support programs.
“The Government of Saskatchewan does not fund drug consumption sites.”
DeMong said she is concerned for those who can’t access the site when they need it most.
“At this time our evening staff are attending to multiple overdoses a night outside the building when the safe consumption site is closed,” she said.
“Nobody’s gonna be there and that’s a really scary thing to try to come to terms with.”
DeMong said PHR staff will continue to fundraise to keep services going.
“Creating more treatment beds is not the solution, we need to keep people alive,” she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6979388.1722030190!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Celine Dion delivers stirring comeback performance at Paris Olympics opening ceremony
Against the rainy Paris night sky, Celine Dion staged the comeback of her career with a powerful performance from the Eiffel Tower to open the Olympic Games.
Jasper wildfire: 'Several weeks' before residents can return, premier says
Premier Danielle Smith said Friday afternoon in Hinton while weather conditions are cooler, the Jasper fire is still considered out of control and that Jasper residents can expect to be away from their homes 'for several weeks.'
Missing 3-year-old boy found dead in creek in Mississauga, Ont.: police
A three-year-old boy has been found dead a day after he went missing in a park in Mississauga, Ont., Peel police say.
Irish museum pulls Sinead O'Connor waxwork after just one day due to backlash
An Irish museum will withdraw a waxwork of singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor just one day after installing it, following a backlash from her family and the public, it told CNN in a statement on Friday.
Winnipeg senior's account overdrawn for $146,000 water bill
A Winnipeg senior is getting soaked with a six-figure water bill.
FBI says Trump was indeed struck by bullet during assassination attempt
Nearly two weeks after Donald Trump’s near assassination, the FBI confirmed Friday that it was indeed a bullet that struck the former president’s ear, moving to clear up conflicting accounts about what caused the former U.S. president’s injuries after a gunman opened fire at a Pennsylvania rally.
Driver charged after flashing high beams at approaching police
Orillia OPP arrested and charged a driver with impaired driving after flashing their high beams.
Turpel-Lafond won't sue CBC over Cree heritage report that took 'heavy toll': lawyer
The lawyer for a former judge whose claims to be Cree were questioned in a CBC investigation says his client is not considering legal action against the broadcaster after the Law Society of British Columbia this week backed her claims of Indigenous heritage.
Major Canadian bank experiences direct deposit outage on payday
Scotiabank says it has fixed a technical issue that impacted direct deposits on Friday morning.