After receiving numerous calls for action, the Government of Saskatchewan has announced several measures to mitigate homelessness and addiction in Saskatchewan.
The first is a two-year approach to homelessness, which will allocate $40.2 million towards creating 155 supportive housing units, 120 new permanent emergency shelter spaces, and several enhanced community safety responses including 30 new complex needs emergency shelter spaces. Of these 30 spaces, 15 will be established in both Saskatoon and Regina.
Minister of Social Services Gene Makowski says the supportive housing units are also set to be established in Saskatoon and Regina, with Prince Albert, Moose Jaw, and other communities divvying up the 120 permanent emergency shelter spaces. Supportive housing differs from social housing, as it also provides wraparound supports to the residents in addition to a place to live.
The second is a five-year Action Plan for Mental Health and Addictions to add at least 500 more addictions treatment spaces with an investment of $49.4 million. Mental Health and Addictions Minister Tim McLeod says the Province has a goal of implementing 50 of these before March of 2024. These will be placed across the province, including in northern, rural, and remote areas, and potentially on-reserve. These shelters will operate based on a Recovery Oriented System of Care, or ROSC model, which is prevention-focused, feedback driven, and community support based. This model aims to promote economic growth, lowered crime rates, and decreased healthcare costs as a result.
Also part of the action plan, is an expansion of rapid access counselling for youth, as well as expanding Mental Health Capacity Building programs from just nine of the school divisions to all 27. McLeod says more psychiatrists will also be recruited. To improve the accessibility of the system, McLeod adds that a central intake and navigation service will be implemented, as well as an Opioid Agonist Therapy program with virtual components.
With Saskatoon set to receive several new shelters of both kinds in the coming years, Mayor Charlie Clark says their locations have yet to be determined, but it will be done as transparently as possible.
