'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
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
NEW 'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Canadian couple among tourists on sinking sailing boat tour abroad
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their “extremely dangerous” experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
An Ontario senior called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Accused of burglary at stepmother's home, U.S. senator says she wanted her father's ashes: charges
A Minnesota state senator and former broadcast meteorologist told police that she broke into her stepmother's home because her stepmother refused to give her items of sentimental value from her late father, including his ashes, according to burglary charges filed Tuesday.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.