Saskatoon City Council Pushes Forward with Warming Centre Despite Concerns
In spite of objections raised about the proximity of a warming centre to an existing homeless shelter, Saskatoon city council proceeded with its decision on Wednesday. The council approved the purchase of a former restaurant located at 325 Avenue C South in the Riversdale business district, right next to the Salvation Army Crossroads shelter.
Major Gordon Taylor from the Salvation Army expressed reservations about the chosen location, labeling it a “bad idea.” However, he acknowledged the necessity for warming spaces as winter approaches. Taylor highlighted his past experience in Winnipeg, warning that clustering similar services in one neighborhood could lead to unfavorable outcomes.
The city council was informed by Lesley Anderson, the city’s director of planning and development, that an extensive two-year search for a suitable warming space location yielded only one option: the building on Avenue C South. Anderson noted the reluctance of property owners to lease buildings for such purposes and emphasized ongoing efforts to explore additional options.
Coun. Senos Timon, representing the Riversdale neighborhood, was the sole dissenting vote against the purchase. He expressed concerns about existing safety issues in the area, predicting additional challenges in Riversdale and adjacent Pleasant Hill with the warming space’s proximity to the Salvation Army shelter.
Despite efforts by Timon and Coun. Robert Pearce to advocate for a more equitable distribution of services for vulnerable populations across the city, their proposal was defeated. Coun. Randy Donauer emphasized the importance of locating essential services in areas where they are most needed.
Pearce, who opposed a 100-bed provincial homeless shelter in Fairhaven during his election last year, highlighted the concentration of homeless individuals and potential predators on the west side of the South Saskatchewan River. Pearce noted the reluctance of homeless individuals on the east side to cross the river and stressed the urgency of providing support to prevent fatalities during winter.
The purchase of the building, costing $805,000, is funded through a federal grant, with an additional $200,000 expected from the federal government for necessary renovations. Council clarified that if a more suitable location is identified, the city can sell the building.
The city’s plan involves leasing the building to the provincial government, which will sublease it to an agency operating the warming space. Renovations are anticipated to delay the opening of the facility until the end of November.
Local business owner Daryl Brown criticized the decision to establish a warming space in Riversdale, condemning the lack of community consultation and accusing city hall of being deceptive. Brown voiced concerns about the negative impact on the neighborhood, which has strived for improvement over the years.
In addition to the warming centre decision, the council approved the city’s affordable housing strategy and endorsed the concept of a centralized hub for homeless services within the city.