Saskatoon Tribal Council backs call by Board of Police Commissioners for more stabilization beds

The chief of the Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC) is backing a letter the city's Board of Police Commissioners sent to the province calling for more resources to help homeless people.

Board chair Jyotsna Custead sent the letter to the Health and Social Services Ministry in June. It followed a local report by the city's street activity subcommittee and community support program that said police had to assist with about 14 per cent of the support program's calls.

The board made the letter public at its monthly meeting this week.

The report noted "a significant increase in the number of people sleeping in building vestibules, encampments, public sidewalks, benches and parks," Custead wrote.

"Valuable policing resources are currently being used to address the complex needs identified above."

The board says Saskatoon urgently needs more stabilization beds.

STC Chief Mark Arcand said the police board's message is more relevant today than ever before.

"We see there's more than 106 people in need in our city," he said Wednesday.

He made the remarks Wednesday at a community barbecue sponsored by the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority and Dakota Dunes Casino outside the STC's wellness centre in Fairhaven.

Arcand said the centre has been operating at capacity — it has 106 beds — since opening a year and a half ago. He said stabilization and a properly funded location are both needed.

"People are addressing these needs, but we need the funding to go along with it. It can't be poor funding, because the system's going to fail. We're just wasting money if it's not properly funded."

In its response to the board's letter, the province said it's committed to finding solutions, but added "addressing addictions, mental health, and homelessness is complex."

It noted that the province earmarked $6.9 million for 2023-24 to support Indigenous-led wellness centres across the province.

It also said "efforts are underway" to add more than 150 addictions treatment spaces.