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Saskatoon City Council will soon be considering a request to extend operations at the temporary emergency homeless shelter on Pacific Avenue until the end of May, while a permanent replacement is being built.
Council previously signed off on an approval for the 40-bed shelter at 210 Pacific Avenue, at the site of the former STC bus station, which is operated by The Mustard Seed, an Alberta-based non profit group. The current approval covers a term of 18 months, with an expiration date of Sept. 30. According to the city, the provincial government has asked an the extension in order to allow more time for the construction and transition of services to a permanent shelter location on 31st Street East.
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The city said the application requires the use of the Emergency Residential Shelter provisions in Saskatoon’s zoning bylaw, and council would also be required to approve the lease and a request for a lease rate that is below market value.
While city council can approve the recommended extension or put forward a motion for an alternate timeline, the city noted that failing to approve the request might leave some of the city’s most vulnerable residents with nowhere to go.
“Considering the construction timeline for the new shelter facility at 31st Street East, an approval for any reduced period could result in an overall reduction of 40 shelter beds available in Saskatoon, which are currently operating in the temporary facility,” the city said in a statement.
“Should City Council approve, no changes in operations are expected from how the site operates today and the current Safety and Security Plan will remain in effect. The Mustard Seed remains the Government of Saskatchewan’s service provider for this location.”
