Not only has the Saskatoon Tribal Council Wellness Centre provided a safe place to stay for homeless people since it opened December 15th, it has also helped to find homes for five families so far. Tribal Chief Mark Arcand says between the 15th and Tuesday morning, 295 people were provided with a safe place to stay. That translates into 1,512 beds over 28 days, which Arcand notes is above the capacity limit of 50 people a day.

The average length of stay is about five days, and seven people, including a person with a dog, have been on site since opening. Arcand doesn’t like to call it a homeless shelter. It’s a Wellness Centre which, along with a place to stay, provides support to help people get off the street,  and find long-term solutions through offering mental health, addictions, employment and housing supports. There is also access to external services through the Saskatoon Community Outreach program.