Saskatoon Police break up two homeless camps on riverbank

Police continue to wrestle with homeless people camping on the riverbank.

On Thursday, officers issued warnings at two separate campsites. One was in a stand of trees at the base of the Broadway Bridge. A second one was near the Victoria Bridge.

Two bicycle officers met with two men at the Broadway site just after the lunch hour.

They told the two men, who said they were from Winnipeg, that they couldn't stay there.

"Make sure you have all your belongings," said one officer.

"The city's been notified to come clean this place up."

They also suggested staying at the Salvation Army, or the Lighthouse.

The makeshift camp featured a sheet roped up between two trees to create a windbreak. The interior was a jumble of blankets, magazines, food containers and clothing.

Shelter update

Officials with the Lighthouse and Salvation Army tell CBC that space is not an issue. Both shelters are busy, but so much that people would be turned away.

They have a combined 124 beds for men. This doesn't include stabilization beds at the Lighthouse for intoxicated people.

And, both said more space would be made available if the demand warranted it.