Mayors across Saskatchewan have concerns regarding homelessness in the province. (Municipalities of Saskatchewan)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

Issue Apparent

Sask. mayors concerned with income support program, homelessness rising

Nov 5, 2021 | 12:07 PM

The implementation of a new support program to provide financial assistance for the most vulnerable Saskatchewan residents has drawn concerns from mayors of cities across the province.

The City Mayors’ Caucus (CMC) of the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) released a press release Friday, stressing issues with the new Saskatchewan Income Support Program (SIS). CMC Chair and Lloydminster Mayor Gerald Aalbers said people are already struggling to pay their rent only two months into the new program.

“This program is designed to help our most vulnerable, but instead, we are seeing an increase in homelessness in our communities,” he said.

Homelessness rates have grown throughout Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic, but particularly in Saskatchewan. One recent report found one in five people saying they are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

SIS replaced the Saskatchewan Assistance Program and the Transitional Employment Allowance Program on August 31. According to surveys taken by the Saskatchewan Landlords’ Association, more than 30 per cent of SIS clients—more than 4,000 people—did not pay their rent in the last two months.

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Aalbers and the rest of the CMC met online Thursday to discuss the impact the new program is already having on their cities. One of the biggest concerns is safety, as homelessness increases risks for both those experiencing it and the community as a whole.

“As municipal leaders, we appreciate the need to make programs more efficient,” Aalbers said. “However, efficiency should not take precedence over the purpose of the program – helping those who need it.”

SUMA’s Executive Committee reportedly expressed similar concerns during a meeting with the Honourable Lori Carr, Minister of Social Services, on November 2. In a comment to battlefordsNOW, Carr thanked SUMA for inviting her to have a productive conversation, adding that they will keep working municipalities to find solutions.

“The Government of Saskatchewan continues to listen and collaborate with our partners in the community on ways we can better support clients with more complex needs who may be at risk of being homeless, and who require more support to see success,” she said. “We will continue to work with community based organizations and municipalities to address these issues in their communities.”

In the press release, SUMA said the CMC will continue to work with the province to identify potential program solutions and address homelessness in Saskatchewan hometowns.

Another focus of the CMC meeting on November 4 was health, including a presentation by Dr. Nathaniel Osgood focusing on COVID-19 pandemic modelling. There was also an update on the CMC’s Mental Health and Addictions Working Group, which is mandated to work with subject matter experts to develop informed solutions for mental health and addiction issues in Saskatchewan hometowns, and meet with elected officials to discuss potential solutions.

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cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.com

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