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Housing advocate David Fineday has spent the past few months staying either in a teepee at a homeless camp on Avenue K or couch surfing with friends and family.
After getting the keys and walking into his own apartment on Avenue H in Saskatoon on Thursday, Fineday said he had goosebumps.
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“I don’t even know how I feel,” Fineday said after seeing his new space for the first time.
“Now I can come home and sit down and listen to the radio, or if I want to cook a box of KD, I can cook that anytime.”
Melissa Zimmer, founder of Bridge City Warmth, said her organization collected $2,000 for Fineday through a fundraising campaign, which will cover his damage deposit and his first two months of rent.
David Fineday stands outside of his apartment building after visiting his new home for the first time on Oct. 15, 2026. (Libby Gray/650 CKOM)
Fineday described feeling happy, relaxed and anxious all at the same time.
“It felt secure,” he shared. “I was walking into something comfortable, and I don’t have to be scared in there.”
At 70 years old, Fineday, who is also blind, said he is due for a double hip surgery in the future, and said he appreciated that the building is accessible and equipped for wheelchairs.
“It’s the perfect place for me,” he shared.
To learn his way around a new area, Fineday said he will count his steps everywhere to familiarize himself with his surroundings. He said he also listens to noises around him to gather more information.
After a month of visits to Saskatoon City Council, Court of Kings Bench, the Saskatoon police station and being kicked out of the homeless camp in a city lot on Avenue K, Fineday said it’s a relief to find a place to live where he feels like he can relax.
“I can’t say enough for Bridge City Warmth for helping to house people,” Fineday said.
