Shocking, but not surprising

That’s from Saskatoon Mayor Cynthia Block after she learned the city’s homeless population has nearly tripled in the last two years.

According to the Point in Time Homelessness Count conducted on October 8th, 2024, there are about 1,499 homeless people in Saskatoon, up from 550 in 2022.

Saskatoon’s Director of Planning and Development, Lesley Anderson, says although it’s a significant increase, it wouldn’t be fair to compare the results to 2022, as this year’s count was a bit different.

“Every year it evolves and gets enhanced,” she explains.

Anderson says this year, volunteers brought their surveys inside encampments, police holding cells, detox centers, and hospitals, something they didn’t do in 2022.

She adds that the volunteer team tried to ensure that they only counted each person once, but there is a possibility for some overlap.

Anderson attributes the spike in homeless people to the growing affordability crisis, and changes to the provincial income assistance program.

Mayor Block hopes this number underscores the urgency of Saskatoon’s homelessness crisis for other levels of government.

“We need that partnership from the federal and provincial government if we’re going to make change,” Block encourages.

A breakdown of the homeless population based on race, age, gender, and original place of residence will be available in February of 2025 with the release of the full report.