'People prop the doors open': Saskatoon resident concerned as people shelter in her stairwell

With the number of homeless people in Saskatoon at an unprecedented high, it’s no surprise people are looking for places to warm up.

One Saskatoon woman says she’s seeing it firsthand in her building.

Amanda Walter moved to a Meadowgreen apartment building in May and since it turned cold, a man she estimates to be in his 20s has been spending the nights there. He even built a shelter in her hallway.

“I was a little surprised he actually brought it all in. I was like, oh,” Amanda Walter told CTV News.

She posted photos on a public Facebook page, hoping to shed light on an issue she feels isn’t being adequately addressed.

“Reality is they need somewhere safe to go that isn't lodging in hallways and sleeping on floors.”

With nearly 1,500 homeless people reported by the city, Walter would like to see money spent more wisely.

“I don't think we should be building a stadium at this time. Not when we have people living in my stairs.”

While Walter would rather not have people sleeping in her building, she says it is unfathomable to force someone out in the winter.

Amanda Walter says a man has been spending nights in her stairwell since the weather turned cold. (Carla Shynkaruk / CTV News)

“It gets cold. It's like, what do you do? You don't really want to call security because then you're like, oh, they're going to just kick them out in the snow. The police will at least come and put him, in a shelter for the night. But he's back the next day,” she says.

Her building does have locks on the inside doors, but working locks aren't the issue, she says.

“People prop the doors open because it's the type of area. It's a type of building where there's a lot of traffic going in and out, and people constantly prop the doors open.”

The City of Saskatoon told CTV News in an email that provisions of its emergency response plan ensure all residents can access a safe location during winter.

“There are two overnight warming locations: Saskatoon Indian and Metis Friendship Centre (women only) and St. Mary’s Church (men only, operated by the Salvation Army),” the city said in its email.

A full list of warming locations is available on the city website at saskatoon.ca/cold.

There are a number of organizations participating in the emergency response plan that have outreach teams to offer resources, supports and transportation in the cold weather.

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The Saskatoon Police Service and the Saskatoon Fire Department are also part of the response, and work with these outreach teams to provide support.

Residents are reminded to contact 911 if they see anyone in distress.

As for Walter, she says there may be issues getting all the information out to those who need it.

“I talked to a lady on the street, she didn't know where she was going for the night, and I told her about the Indian and Métis [Friendship] Center downtown. I told her that's where women can go for the night. She didn't know.”