Winter has settled into Saskatchewan and encampments have been popping up extra often as individuals with out properties attempt to keep heat.
Data despatched to CBC Information by the Saskatoon Fireplace Division present there have been 200 extra encampments catalogued within the metropolis in 2024 in comparison with this time final yr.
In the meantime, advocates are calling for motion to get individuals off the streets.
St. Mary’s Parish in Saskatoon opened the doorways to its men-only warming centre final week, one week sooner than anticipated, in an effort to maintain individuals heat.
“We’ll see how the winter goes and whether or not this can be a good resolution for this yr, or if extra was wanted,” Gordon Taylor, the manager director of Salvation Military Crossroads, stated.
The Salvation Military operates the in a single day warming centre within the church’s basement. Taylor stated on common about 120 individuals per night time would search heat within the house final yr — extra on colder nights.
An encampment on twentieth Road, proper throughout the road from St. Mary’s, was taken down final week. The camp’s chief instructed CBC that some individuals sought shelter at St. Mary’s within the aftermath.
Information from the Saskatoon hearth division means that homelessness is on the rise in that metropolis. As of this time in 2023, there had been 42 working fires at encampments reported in Saskatoon. This yr that quantity has risen to 47.
Not solely have there been many extra encampments recorded to date this yr, the variety of inadequately housed individuals in Saskatoon has risen by greater than 600 individuals in comparison with this time final yr.
The Regina Fireplace Division didn’t present statistics from final yr for comparability.
Assembly individuals the place they’re at
The Regina Fireplace Division confirmed Friday
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