Saskatoon warming centre sees rise in numbers as cold weather hits

Old Man Winter has returned to the Prairies and people in Saskatoon without an option to hunker down indoors are being forced to try and find a place to stay warm.

Maj. Gordon Taylor is the executive director at the Salvation Army Crossroads and he said that they’ve already seen a jump in the amount of people attending their warming centre since its opening in early November.

Read more:

• Saskatoon’s point-in-time count identifies 29 per cent more homeless people
• City council approves building purchase for permanent winter warming space

“I think we had like 30 men the first night, but it quickly increased by the end of the first week we were up in the 80s and 90s, and we’re now consistently over 100 guests every night,” said Taylor.

Now that temperatures have entered that -20 C range, he said that it’s hard to tell if numbers will continue to increase.

“We haven’t really seen the weather and the numbers completely correlating all the time,” he said.

“Sometimes when it gets colder, people are more likely to find someone to stay with — so it doesn’t necessarily go up.”

The City of Saskatoon’s latest point in time (PIT) count on Oct. 16 found that homelessness had risen by roughly 29 per cent compared to 2024, with 1,931 people saying they were homeless.

“The numbers we’re seeing right now are about the same as what we saw in the middle of winter last year,” said Taylor.

“So if they continue to increase, then we’ll definitely end up at a higher number than a year ago.”

Taylor said that they are taking a “prepare for the worst and hope for the best” approach.

“If the numbers continue to increase and if it becomes unmanageable, then that’s the limit — we’re not going to put a hard cap on anything though,” he said.

“If we say the limit is 120 and one more person comes, we’re not going to turn them away.”

As the cold continues, Taylor said that donations from the public can make a massive difference.

“Especially this time of year, blankets, warm winter clothing, coats, gloves, socks are always great,” he said.

Those wanting to make a donation are asked to drop them off at the group’s year-round shelter at 339 Ave. C South, as it has 24/7 staffing.

Read more:

• Saskatoon’s point-in-time count identifies 29 per cent more homeless people
• City council approves building purchase for permanent winter warming space