The Saskatoon Tribal Council’s Emergency Wellness Centre in Fairhaven has enough beds for 106 people, and they house about 40 people in the lobby every night, but Tribal Chief Mark Arcand expects there are more like a thousand homeless people in the city, so the problem has not been solved. He hopes all levels of government will take note with more support for more shelters across the city.
Arcand says he will often get pictures sent to him of homeless people asking what he is going to do about it. He explains that the Wellness Centre only has so much room and if you see someone who looks like they need help, contact the police instead of texting him a picture, or get a hold of the STC’s mobile outreach. The numbers are below.
Tribal Chief Arcand believes most of the people in the Fairhaven neighbourhood support the Wellness Centre, but there are a few very vocal people poisoning the well. He points to a pastor who was interviewed by a media outlet and told the reporter that they have begun locking the church doors, even when there are people inside. The pastor talked about a homeless man who appeared to be high who knocked on the door asking for help, while there were two adults and 12 children inside. Arcand says instead of going by the Commandment “Love Thy Neighbour” the message was to keep the door locked.
The Tribal Chief adds that crime statistics in the Fairhaven neighbourhood have not increased since their Emergency Wellness Centre opened its doors in November. Statistics from the Saskatoon Police Service indicate, as an example, there were 98 social disorder calls in the neighbourhood from mid-October to mid-November and then the next month, there were 81. Mark Arcand states that violent crime call numbers have remained flat while property crimes have decreased.
STC Saweyihtotan Mobile Services Outreach: 306-380-0835 and 306-381-4917
*Saskatoon Police Statistics for Fairhaven neighbourhood: (Wellness Centre opened in November)
Sep 16 to Oct 15, 2022 164 Total calls 85 Social Disorder calls (52% of total calls)
Oct 16 to Nov 15, 2022 183 Total calls 98 Social Disorder calls (54% of total calls)
Nov 16 to Dec 15, 2022 158 Total calls 81 Social Disorder calls (51% of total calls)
Dec 16 to Jan 14, 2023 155 Total calls 87 Social Disorder calls (56% of total calls)
Violent crime can be broken down to the following events:
Sep 16 to Oct 15, 2022 (13 events), Oct 16 to Nov 15, 2022 (3 events), Nov 16 to Dec 15, 2022 (4 events), Dec 16 to Jan 14, 2023 (6 events)
(*Violent crime = assaults, robberies, extortions, sexual assaults, threats, harassments)
Property crime:
Sep 16 to Oct 15, 2022 (12 events), Oct 16 to Nov 15, 2022 (14 events), Nov 16 to Dec 15, 2022 (10 events), Dec 16 to Jan 14, 2023 (8 events).
(Property crime = Break and enters, frauds, mischiefs, thefts, traffic/posses stolen property)
