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Saskatoon city councillors have greenlit the purchase of a former restaurant and banquet hall that will become a permanent winter warming space.
The building is located next to the Salvation Army men’s shelter at 325 Avenue C, which still needs to be renovated, and would accommodate both men and women.
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There are concerns from the Salvation Army, which has shelter space for 75 men at its Crossroads facility, from Ward 2 Coun. Senos Timon, and from area businesses.
During Wednesday’s council meeting, Leslie Anderson, director of planning and development, said her department had been searching for a suitable permanent warming location for about two years.
“Every year, this has become more and more challenging and in previous years were were not able to look at purchasing a building for this use. This year, it became necessary to look at that option, and we were also in a position to use existing federal funding from the Government of Canada for this purchase,” she told council.
Cost of the building is about $805,000, with another $200,000 allocated for renovations. Anderson said the building itself is nearly 5,500 square feet, with a fenced-in parking lot beside it.
There would be space for about 100 people, including separate areas for men and women.
The money would come from the $4.3 million dollars the federal government gave in Dec. 2024 for Saskatoon’s Community Encampment Response Plan.
But there was opposition to the purchase and the city’s recommendations.
Gord Taylor, The Salvation Army Crossroads residential services executive director, raised several concerns, including that his enhanced shelter with 75 spaces for men only, is located adjacent to the warming space site.
He told councillors while there is a need to have more warming space, including separate locations for men and women, having one right next door was not ideal.
“To have a full time enhanced shelter right next door to a warming centre, I just think is a bad idea,” he said, citing Winnipeg as an example.
Taylor also pointed out the “mind boggling” cost to buy the building “just to get through the winter.”
“To rent the space we need to operate the other centre at St. Mary’s for the entire winter including rent and what we project for maintenance, repairs, utilities, cleaning – is $72,000,” he continued.
Riversdale business owner Daryl Brown who’s owned a business on 20th street for more than 30 years had sharp words for councilors and administration.
“Over the years, the residents and businesses of Riversdale have worked hard to bring life back to the neighbourhood. This once thriving community is being destroyed by the city administration with the numerous warming centres, soup kitchens and harm reduction services that are being forced on us.
Brown accused them both of not listening to residents.
“Instead, you push ahead and do what you want, which comes across as sneaky and underhanded,” he added. “The handouts have to stop and the individuals in need require a hand out. The handouts develop an entitlement mentality that we are already seeing.”
Ward 2 Coun. Senos Timon also added his concerns on behalf of local families about concentrating so many services in a small area.
“One of the most common issues that came up was the safety and well being in these neighbourhoods.”
Coun. Timon ultimately voted against the recommendation, however the rest of city council voted in favour.
Ward 5 Coun. Randy Donauer said while he heard the concerns, there are more people who are homeless on Saskatoon’s west side and services need to be placed where they are concentrated.
Anderson said if another, better location became available, the city could sell the building. The warming centre could open by the end of November. It’s not yet clear who will run the facility.
Affordable housing plan and permanent shelter
Saskatoon city council also gave the nod to adopting the new five-year affordable housing plan, and funding approval for $350,000 to build a sidewalk that would give better pedestrian access to the new, 60-bed permanent shelter site at 170, 31st Street West, near Sask. Polytechnic.
Fifty-thousand dollars would also be used to build a fence to restrict access to the CPKC rail line located directly behind the future shelter. Another $50,000 is being used for local communication materials, public engagement support, and staff hours for delivering the information sessions.
The money would come from the reserve for capital expenditures.
