Sask. government says it has no plans to relocate Fairhaven shelter

The provincial government says there are no plans to relocate the Saskatoon Tribal Council's Emergency Wellness Centre, despite calls from a city councillor to move the facility.

In an email to CTV News, the Ministry of Social Services says it has ongoing conversations around homelessness services with the city and other community partners, and those conversations don't include relocation.

"At this time, we are not exploring a potential relocation of the shelter," the statement from the ministry said.

"Saskatoon Tribal Council is an important partner in providing shelter services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness in the City of Saskatoon."

Ward 3 Coun. Rob Pearce asked city administration last week to explore a "solution" for people in Fairhaven during a special meeting at City Hall last week about funding increases for an upcoming temporary emergency shelter on Pacific Avenue.

"What about Fairhaven? What solution is coming for the people who have been living with the serious issues in Fairhaven and the surrounding communities?" Pearce said.

"Because if we're spending $8.8 million and we haven't committed anything to this yet, I think this city deserves to treat Fairhaven in some way, shape or form and find a solution with Chief (Mark) Arcand and relocate it."

Council ultimately voted to pursue an application as part the federal government's Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampments Initiative that would see the city match a funding contribution of $4.4 million to support the development of new supportive housing units combined with a community space, and develop a feasibility study for a future Community Navigation Centre, if the application is successful.

"I'm sorry, the people of Fairhaven have been waiting two years," Pearce said.

"If we have $4.3 million to help put towards a solution, I'm going to be asking this council to seriously consider helping the people of Fairhaven and the surrounding communities because something needs to happen. It's long overdue."

On Friday, the day after the special meeting, Arcand invited reporters to a news conference addressing Pearce's comments. He said the two of them were supposed to meet last week, but Arcand had to reschedule due to a busy calendar. He said while he's open to moving the shelter, he would have appreciated some advanced warning from Pearce.

"He has no solution. He just wants it out of Fairhaven," Arcand said. "There's 1,500 people in our city that are on the streets. So removing a shelter of 106 people and moving to somewhere else with no solution, we're not lowering the numbers of homelessness."

On Thursday, a point in time homelessness account conducted by multiple community organizations and over 200 volunteers in October and revealed there are 1,499 homeless people in the city, which is roughly the population of Langham.

The last homeless count in 2022 counted 550 homeless people.

"I've mentioned I'm willing to relocate it, but it's got to be a proper facility with everything that we need, all the shortfalls, everything else," Arcand said.

"But when we're just at the snap of the hat to say we're going to move A to B with no solution, and we didn't lower any of the homeless numbers. It shouldn't even be talked about."

A report going to the board of police commissioners later this week will ask Saskatoon police and the fire department to provide the same services to the emergency wellness centre as it is planning to provide to the temporary shelter, including extended security hours.

Arcand also said the STC's Sawêyihtotân program, which provides outreach services and housing supports, is struggling with current demand for services. He said he plans to speak to city council on Wednesday to urge for more immediate action.