My vision is a bed for everyone in need and a pathway out of homelessness.
These steps are key to building a safe and thriving city for every person, in every neighbourhood.
Like cities across Canada, Saskatoon is facing an escalating crisis that is straining resources of service providers, community organizations, and governments. There are many factors contributing to homelessness including poverty, affordability, marginalization, trauma, addiction, and mental illness.
We need to work together like never before if we are going to turn this around.
We need:
-
More Sheltering Space:
- A greater number of Enhanced Shelters, to support a spectrum of needs
- More Basic Shelter spaces - to ensure everyone in need has a bed.
-
More Services:
- Additional community based Mental Health, Addictions, and Social Services
- Increased access to basic services such as bathrooms, showers, and laundry
- Ensure everyone has a place to be through creation of 24hr drop-in locations.
-
Pathways Out of Homelessness:
- Coordinated transitional support from shelters to permanent housing
- A Housing First approach to prioritize stable housing.
My plan:
No Mayor or City Council can solve this alone. We need to work urgently with other orders of government, including Indigenous governments. We need a comprehensive national strategy and we need our community with us.
-
Create a Task Force on Homelessness and Community Safety:
- Residents will be at the table, including those with lived experience. Together with Fire, Police, service providers, businesses and Indigenous partners we will chart a new course.
- The Task Force will take a solutions-based approach that is open, transparent and accountable to our community. Together, we will have a stronger voice to affect change and move Saskatoon forward.
-
Work urgently with the provincial government to achieve:
- More sheltering space and transitional supports.
- A year round hub model for basic services.
- Changes to the Saskatchewan Income Support Program.
-
Call for a comprehensive National Strategy on Homelessness:
- We need direct funds from the Federal Government to our city, as we also secure appropriate co-funding from the Province.
- I will advocate to ensure future Federal encampment and homelessness funding will work for Saskatoon.
- With sector partners, I will ensure our community is ready to maximize Federal dollars with clear coordination and a clear plan.
As Mayor, I pledge to make homelessness and community safety my top priorities. Community problems require community solutions, and together we will move Saskatoon forward for everyone.
