‘We’re quite worried:’ Core areas in Saskatoon without vital resources following COVID-related facility closures: PHR

As COVID cases continue to climb across Saskatchewan early this winter, the lone warm-up location in Saskatoon’s Pleasant Hill neighbourhood has shut down.

The facility also houses Pleasant Hill’s only public washroom.

It’s also Saskatchewan’s only safe consumption site.

Prairie Harm Reduction’s only location on 20th street has shut down due to a positive COVID case among its staff, said executive director Jason Mercredi Tuesday.

“We had a staff member develop symptoms late last week, and as part of our policy they stayed home, took a sick day and then went for COVID testing, then the test came back positive,” he told 650 CKOM.

“All of our staff have gone for testing since then. It wasn’t an easy decision, but a necessary one.”

Prairie Harm Reduction’s facility has seen a “steady increase” in people accessing its services recently, Mercredi says. The day prior to its closure, however, did nearly end up with a tragic ending.

“We actually had our first overdose in the facility,” Mercredi said, before explaining that staff were able to revive and keep the user alive.

“We know that the need is there for our services.”

Mercredi described the closure of the facility as “the responsible thing to do,” with a quick shut down rather than create another area of spread— something especially worrisome when looking at those in need of its services.

Staff will be re-tested late next week before the doors reopen at the facility, Mercredi said.

On the same day that the closure of Prairie Harm Reduction was announced, Monday also saw another vital resource in Saskatoon’s vulnerable sector close due to a positive COVID test.

The Saskatoon Food Bank closed its doors on Monday because of positive COVID-19 cases. It should be reopening in a few days. Mercredi went into depth on what this means for the vulnerable sector.

“We’re quite worried,” he said. “It’s not good. A food bank is a vital service. Thousands of people access them for food, every week. We’re not in a good spot right now with the way the cases are going. At the same time, we have to be making sure that we’re doing our part to keep the curve as low as we can.”

Mercredi said he and others have been pressuring those in power for a plan for the homeless population since the spring.

But, as of November 24th, “we don’t really have one,” he says.

“There’s not really any functional plan for what to do for the marginalized population. I think all the community organizations in the city are working together, as best we can. But we still don’t have a plan for where we’re supposed to be housing these folks. We’re seeing kind of a rotating door with the COVID hotels. Now with the shelters having to do closures, we’re not in a good spot.”

-Editors note: This is a corrected version of the earlier story. The Saskatoon Food Bank was not closed for two weeks as was reported in the original story.