Saskatoon’s only warming centre says things aren’t good for the city’s houseless population

An urgent need for warmth and safety amidst the sudden drop in temperatures called for an immediate response from the Saskatoon Indian and Métis Friendship Centre (SIMFC).

It not only met those emergency needs but also created valuable employment opportunities in the process.

“We helped our staff in the same way that we helped our relatives (clients) who are using the facility,” said Michelle King, executive director of SIMFC. “What we pulled off is a miracle. I’m really proud of the work that our staff is doing.”

In mid November, much of the province was hit with more than 120 centimetres of snow coupled with a drop in temperature.

In anticipation of the storm, the City of Saskatoon asked SIMFC if they could open their warming centre earlier than the intended December 2^nd opening date.

“They called (on November 17) asked how quickly we could safely open,” said King. “I said we will open tomorrow.”

Armed with a team of staff already training for the warm-up centre, King knew they needed more help.

Her team turned to social media to recruit additional staff.

Applications flooded in and for two straight days SIMFC staff members interviewed and hired individuals for the centre.

“We went to our own people,” said King. “We have an ‘Indigenous people for Indigenous people’ model. We had more resumés than people could employ.”

Since many of those hired by SIMFC would be working security, it was decided to provide full security training to every new employee, which is training and experience they can take with them once the job is over.

SIMFC also provides rides to and from work for all its employees.

“We know that Indigenous people in Canada have all kinds of barriers and intergenerational trauma, so we make sure every staff member has a safe ride and are able to do their job,” said King. “Otherwise it’s a barrier, and often a barrier other organizations don’t care to navigate.”

Significant Increase in Homelessness in Saskatoon

According to King, the recent ‘point-in-time’ homelessness count coordinated by the City of Saskatoon and several organizations around the city, revealed around 1,200 people in Saskatoon experiencing homelessness.

Last year the count was 575.

King believes several factors have contributed to the rapid increase.

“When social assistance allowed clients to get their rent paid to them directly, that rent wasn’t going to the landlords anymore, and people were getting evicted,” said King. “The cost of living has also skyrocketed beyond even working people’s ability to pay rent. And the amount allocated from social services is deplorable.”

With a homelessness crisis in the city, King said Saskatoon is not even close to meeting the need.

The SIMFC warming centre, which cannot have beds or be called a ‘shelter’ due to zoning issues, can accommodate 260-290 people seeking refuge.

They operate as a co-ed space from 6pm to 11pm, where they serve hot meals and provide healthy snacks to anyone who comes in. At 11pm they become a women’s only shelter until 9am. Men seeking shelter can access the Salvation Army warming centre at St. Mary’s Parish.

From 6pm to 11pm, the SIMFC warming centre is the only one open in Saskatoon.

 

“It’s just not a priority to the current provincial government,” said King.

Houselessness is a provincial and federal government responsibility, but at the present time, it’s falling on the shoulders of municipalities, she said.

“It seems like Jordan’s Principle for adults,” said King. “It’s a jurisdictional issue that the federal and provincial government are battling.”

SIMFC is going to the city to ask for $200,000 for the warming centre. They have pieced together funding through several organizations, partners, and donors, but have had to dip into their own resources to cover expenses.

The warming centre doesn’t have the funding in place to operate for the full winter.

“I want to see a permanent space, a navigation space for hard to house people, that has showers, lockers, washers, driers, support services, and safe place to come out of the heat or cold that would operate 365 days a year,” said King.

SIMFC continually looks for funding, as well as donations in the form of food, warm clothing, blankets, pillows, and toiletries.