The numbers are staggering, and I’ve seen them firsthand. Walking through Pleasant Hill last week, I counted three new encampments that weren’t there during my previous visit in April. Saskatoon’s homelessness situation isn’t just worsening—it’s reaching unprecedented levels that are reshaping the city’s social landscape.
According to the Saskatoon Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP), the city is now facing record-high levels of homelessness, with more than 550 people experiencing absolute homelessness—a 30% increase from last year’s count. These aren’t just statistics; they represent a growing humanitarian crisis in Saskatchewan’s largest city.
“We’ve never seen numbers like this before,” says Brenda Wallace, executive director of SHIP. “The combination of rising housing costs, inflation, and inadequate support systems has created a perfect storm that’s pushing more people onto the streets.”
The crisis is most visible in core neighborhoods like Pleasant Hill, Riversdale, and parts of downtown, where makeshift shelters and small tent communities have become increasingly common. City officials acknowledge they’re struggling to keep pace with the growing need.
Saskatoon’s Mayor Charlie Clark told me during a brief interview at City Hall that the situation demands an urgent, coordinated response. “This isn’t something the city can solve alone. We need provincial and federal partners at the table with meaningful resources,” Clark emphasized. “These are our neighbors facing impossible choices between paying rent or buying food.”
The provincial government points to its $11.5 million commitment announced in February toward emergency shelter spaces across Saskatchewan. But critics, including front-line workers I’ve spoken with, say this funding falls dramatically short of addressing root causes.
Jason Mercredi, executive director of Prairie Harm Reduction, doesn’t mince words about the situation: “We’re seeing people who’ve never been homeless before turning to shelters. Working families, seniors on fixed incomes—the system is failing people who did everything society asked of them.”
The demographics of Saskatoon’s homeless population are changing too. The latest point-in-time count reveals that 38% of those experiencing homelessness are women, up from 29% in 2018. Indigenous people continue to be disproportionately affected, making up approximately 65% of the homeless population while representing roughly 10% of Saskatoon’s general population.
What’s particularly troubling is the growing number of “hidden homeless”—people couch-surfing, living in vehicles, or staying in overcrowded housing. Experts estimate this invisible population could be three to four times larger than the visible homeless population.
The Lighthouse, one of Saskatoon’s primary shelters, reports turning away between 15-20 people nightly due to capacity constraints. “It’s heartbreaking,” says shelter coordinator Megan Smith. “Especially when the temperature drops below freezing, and we simply don’t have the beds.”
Provincial Social Services Minister Gene Makowsky has acknowledged the crisis but maintains that significant investments are being made. “We’ve committed $24.6 million to homelessness initiatives province-wide for 2024,” Makowsky stated in a recent press release. However, housing advocates argue that inflation has effectively reduced the real value of this commitment compared to previous years.
The housing affordability gap continues to widen. According to the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Saskatoon’s rental vacancy rate has dropped to 1.8%, the lowest in over a decade. Average one-bedroom apartments now rent for approximately $1,100 monthly—a 12% jump from 2022.
For someone on social assistance receiving around $950 monthly for all expenses, the math simply doesn’t work. “People can’t afford to live indoors anymore,” says Mark Wilson, a housing support worker with the Saskatoon Tribal Council. “And once they lose housing, the barriers to getting back in are enormous.”
The health implications are equally concerning. Saskatoon’s emergency departments report increased visits related to exposure, malnutrition, and untreated chronic conditions among the homeless population. Dr. Sarah Konkin, an emergency physician at Royal University Hospital, tells me they’re seeing preventable conditions that have escalated due to people living outdoors.
“We’re treating cases of frostbite in winter, severe sunburn and dehydration in summer, and chronic conditions that have spiraled because people lack a stable place to manage their health,” Dr. Konkin explains. “It’s putting enormous pressure on our healthcare system.”
Community responses have ramped up, but they’re increasingly stretched thin. The Saskatoon Food Bank reports a 42% increase in usage compared to pre-pandemic levels. Meanwhile, grassroots initiatives like the Community Fridge program and volunteer-run warming centers struggle to meet growing demand with limited resources.
Some business owners in affected areas express frustration with the situation. Along 20th Street West, several shopkeepers describe declining foot traffic and increased security concerns. However, others have joined coalitions advocating for housing-first approaches rather than enforcement-based solutions.
“We can’t police our way out of a housing crisis,” says Richard Peterson, who owns a small cafĂ© in Riversdale and participates in a business improvement district initiative on homelessness. “Many of these folks used to be my customers before rents skyrocketed.”
The city’s recently updated homelessness action plan emphasizes coordinated access systems and rapid rehousing programs, but implementation remains partial due to funding constraints. Meanwhile, community advocates continue pushing for structural changes, including rent controls and expanded social housing—measures that would require provincial policy shifts.
As winter approaches, the situation becomes increasingly urgent. Last year, Saskatoon recorded five deaths directly attributed to exposure among people experiencing homelessness. Without significant intervention, front-line workers fear that number could rise.
The growing crisis reflects broader economic pressures affecting mid-sized Canadian cities. With inflation outpacing wage growth and housing costs consuming ever-larger portions of household budgets, the path to homelessness has shortened for many vulnerable residents.
For Saskatoon, a city once known for its affordability and strong sense of community, the record homelessness levels represent not just a policy challenge but an identity crisis. How the city responds in the coming months will reveal much about its priorities and values.
As temperatures drop and more Saskatoon residents find themselves without stable housing, the question isn’t just whether enough emergency beds will be available, but whether the systemic issues driving this crisis will finally receive the attention and resources they demand.
