'We are stuck here': Saskatoon woman says she can't sell home due to nearby shelter
A Saskatoon homeowner says her proximity to a homeless shelter is the reason her house wouldn’t sell.
Deairra Lynchuk has lived on Clancy Drive for the past 15 years.
She says since the Saskatoon Tribal Council's Wellness Centre opened in December, just steps away from her home, the Fairhaven neighbourhood changed.
“We're seeing needles everywhere, we’re seeing crack pipes, we're seeing people with encampments,” Lynchuk told CTV News.
“I have very young children, I shouldn't have to speak to them about drugs and drug paraphernalia at this age, but unfortunately I am having to because it's a safety issue now.”
Lynchuk said she found a knife on the sidewalk, in front of her home.
As a safety precaution, Lynchuk built her fence higher and installed security cameras.
In February, Lynchuk decided she had enough and listed her home for sale.
“We had a large number of people go through our home, and the consensus was that the home was great, but they would not buy because we were located too close to the shelter,” Lynchuk said.
After a month, Lynchuk took the home off the market.
“The market was trending up, but the sale of our home would trend down because as we got closer to warmer months, the activity in the area was increasing,” Lynchuk said.
“We can’t sell, which means we can’t leave the neighbourhood. We can’t just buy in another neighbourhood now. We are stuck here. We don’t have a choice.”
While Lynchuk says shelters are needed in Saskatoon, she doesn’t believe they should be in residential neighbourhoods.
In March, Saskatoon police said officers spend 20 hours a day in the Fairhaven neighbourhood. Police Chief Troy Cooper said there has been an increase of calls — mostly about social disturbances, rather than criminal activity.
CTV News has contacted the Saskatoon Tribal Council, which operates the shelter, and is awaiting a response.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.