Wellness centre for Saskatoon homeless at capacity almost every night in first month

The 50-bed Emergency Wellness Centre set up a month ago in Saskatoon has been full almost every night.

The centre, set up as a temporary measure to help with homelessness, has been averaging 54 people per night, says Chief Marc Arcand of the Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC), which runs the facility.

"The average stay of an individual is four to seven days," Arcand said. "Since we've opened seven people have been here for the 28 days, including one pet.

"So you can see the need is here and the need is great."

Arcand said almost 300 people have used the centre since it opened.

In the first 14 days there were 10 overdoses inside the centre and another four outside.

"We do not allow anyone to use drugs, alcohol or smoke cigarettes inside this facility," he said, but added, staff don't judge people when they come through the door.

"We are trying to get them into the wellness programs while trying to help them deal with their addictions issues."

Arcand said everyone survived and there hasn't been an overdose in the last two weeks.

"I think we opened up at the right time, because it's been a long cold snap for three weeks."

Arcand said most people coming to the centre are suffering from mental health illnesses and addictions.

"There's two-thirds of the people here that, you know, probably won't come back from their addiction because they're in so deep," Arcand said. "But we still have to work with them and do the best we can to help them have a quality of life."

He said there are also families and other people on the edge between getting healthy or slipping further into addictions.

"Those are the ones we are really trying to work with to get them into housing and everything else," he said. 

Arcand said they are now looking for space to set up a 20-bed facility specifically for families and those who do not have mental health or addictions issues.

"We can move those families and the people that don't need that supervision, and put them into a less supervised area … and then try to help them move on from there."

So far the centre has found housing for four families, including one mother who was able to be reunited with her children.

Lanny Mcdonald, the cultural support and team lead at the centre, said besides offering a warm bed and food, it is helping people connect to other supports.

"That's why we don't use the word client, we use the word relative," Mcdonald said. "We try to make them feel comfortable and see what their needs are and meet them where they're at and not be judgmental."

Krista Reid, the centre's acting team lead, said staff have been able to make personal connections with the people using the shelter.

"We see people suffering and talking to us about it, and that alone is huge because a lot of people don't like showing their feelings or speaking about their traumas or the things that are bothering them," Reid said.

There are eight to 12 staff who work 12-hour shifts at the centre.

Chief Arcand said over a two-week period, staffing costs have been around $100,000 and food cost another $30,000.

The centre has received more than $150,000 in private and corporate donations, including $65,000 from the United Way of Saskatoon and Area, $25,000 from Métis Nation of Saskatchewan and another $25,000 from an anonymous donor.

The city has given the space and is paying for utilities at the centre.

The centre also has access to about $500,000 from the province and another $600,000 in federal funding for staffing.

Since the centre opened, the Saskatchewan Health Authority has hosted two onsite immunization clinics and will host another one next week.