At its meeting yesterday, the Saskatoon Board of Police Commissioners discussed what can be done to improve the homelessness issue in the city.

Commissioner Charlie Clark says he is grateful for the newly announced 15-bed emergency shelter on Idylwyld Drive, however it still won’t provide a place for those who need longer than 24 hours to transition back into society.

“There’s still not a clear place to take those individuals, even with these facilities being announced. A 24-hour facility is good, but we know that after 24 hours, the individuals will be back on the streets,” Clark stated.

The commission decided to write a letter to the province thanking them for their contributions but acknowledging that more needs to be done for those with extreme complex needs.

Looking ahead in 2024, the SPS intends to implement over 40 new projects including an Integrated Preventative Response Team, a Victim Services Human Trafficking Response Team project, and an expansion of the body-worn camera program, bringing the total number of cameras to 120.

There will also be strengthened enforcement efforts on gang members, more patrol officers added to the Community Mobilization Unit, additional advocation for harm reduction, targeting of drug dealers, and a reintegration program for officers who were involved in critical incidents, among over 30 other projects.