After their caucus meetings Thursday in Regina, Saskatchewan’s City Mayors are calling for a full review of Saskatchewan housing and income support programs.

Chair of SUMA’s City Mayors’ Caucus says they are seeing residents in their communities continue to struggle to pay rent or have access to affordable social housing.  Mayor Gerald Aalbers says, “Homelessness creates significant public safety concerns for both those experiencing it and our communities as a whole.”

The Mayors Caucus believes inconsistency within the Saskatchewan Income Support program continues to be a barrier for those in need.

Aalbers says the rising cost of living isn’t being met by the Saskatchewan Income Support Program to meet essential needs.

He says, “Rent within the province has increased 10 to 15 per cent and both Crown utility corporations have raised their rates, while a single adult in Regina or Saskatoon only receives $600 per month for shelter and utilities.”

It was brought up in Question Period in the Legislature earlier in the week, when the NDP questioned the Government about 3,000 affordable housing units that sit vacant, and the mayors have the same concern.  They say some of the units are chronically vacant.

The mayors want to see the Social Housing Program, specifically housing criteria and maintenance, reviewed to ensure that these housing units are being utilized.