New apartments will combat homelessness in Saskatoon, officials say
Apartment renovation creates 12 suites
New housing projects in Saskatoon are expected to ease homelessness in the city, according to an announcement issued Friday from a variety of agencies.
Money for the projects, organized by the Saskatoon Housing Initiatives Partnerships, was provided by a number of sources, including the federal, provincial and municipal governments, and the Saskatoon Tribal Council.
One of the projects includes a 12-unit apartment that will be used to provide short-term housing for Aboriginal people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
"It's not just a bandage," Marc Arcand, vice chief of the Saskatoon Tribal Council, said in a news release. "It includes working with the individuals to move ahead and find permanent housing."
The announcement noted the high cost of living in Saskatoon and said a transitional step will help people who wouldn't have anywhere else to go.
It will provide them a secure place to live plus allows them to develop rent references and build credit for a permanent home.