After evaluating dozens of potential sites for a proposed temporary emergency shelter, the recommended location ultimately came down to one simple question, city manager Jeff Jorgenson says.
“Where is there a building that would work?” he said on Wednesday at city hall, where councillors were tasked with voting on whether or not to move forward with using the former Saskatchewan Transportation Company parcel depot at 210 Pacific Avenue as the site of a new, temporary emergency shelter.
“This is the only building we’ve found that works and meets the criteria,” Jorgenson said.
Criteria set out by city council for an emergency residential shelter space include space for 30 to 40 beds and some private rooms, showers, bathrooms, a kitchen, office space, proximity to other services and a distance of at least 250 metres from any elementary school.
Roughly seven hours after the council meeting began, and after a day of speakers, questions, presentations and debate, the motion was passed 7-4.
Councillors David Kirton, Cynthia Block, Hilary Gough, Mairin Loewen, Zach Jeffries, Sarina Gersher and Mayor Charlie Clark voted in favour. Councillors Darren Hill, Troy Davies, Randy Donauer and Bev Dubois voted against the motion.
SITES REJECTED DUE TO COSTS, ZONING
Jorgenson said most potential sites were rejected due to zoning or renovation costs.
As an example, he said the former Giant Tiger location on 22nd Street was inspected, but was too close to the former Princess Alexandra school location, and renovations would have been too costly.
Council heard Inland Steel’s building on 71st Street East was again too expensive to renovate. The city surveyors’ building at 333 Ontario Avenue, directly across from police headquarters, needs too many renovations.
Jorgenson said there are no sites “that we know of” other than the parcel depot that could be made ready for next spring, let alone this winter. The main STC building was ruled out, but the parcel building was deemed viable.
“We did not have the luxury of being choosy” over which businesses or residential developments were close by, Jorgenson added.
Safety and security are “top of mind for residences and businesses,” he acknowledged. Dozens of citizens and organizations submitted letters or asked to speak at the council meeting — most of whom were either opposed to the location or expressed disappointment over a perceived lack of consultation.
When city councillors had time to question the direct stakeholders, a majority of the questions were related to security and safety.
Downtown resident Geri Fernet urged council to not approve or deny the location, but instead take time to find an appropriate, permanent site.
“We’ve been going temporary for too many years,” she said in response to questioning from Coun. Darren Hill.
Blair Chapman, vice-chair of Downtown Saskatoon’s board of directors, said the board felt “disappointment in the lack of consultation and collaboration” about the proposed shelter location.
Chapman said previous downtown shelters — including The Lighthouse and Saskatoon Tribal Council’s shelter on First Avenue — “created numerous challenges for the district and stifled operations and growth for many businesses and created an unfriendly and unwelcoming atmosphere at times for staff, patrons and community members.”
Without proper measures, residents, hotels, businesses and places of worship “will be affected by this new facility in a similar fashion,” Chapman said.
The Downtown Saskatoon board urged strategic approaches to address safety and security, cleanliness, loitering, graffiti and vandalism, Chapman added.
The board also urged restricting the number of occupants to a maximum of 40; the operating timeline to a six-month term during winter “as a true emergency measure”; requiring 24/7 security; and funds to help business owners cover the cost of vandalism-related repairs, security improvements, and extra pedestrian garbage bin emptying.
Several businesses that cater primarily to children or young adults addressed council. Milestones Occupational Therapy for Children, Second Act Dance Studios and Store and Rise Dance Company are located within steps of the Pacific Avenue location.
Randi-Lee Loshack from Rise Dance Company said there are mainly young females coming and going from her studio in the evenings, many of whom are by themselves.
“We believe that all people deserve food and shelter,” Loshack said. “However, this proposed shelter is amplifying the risk to our dancers and teachers.”
The city promised extended hours for security and support workers downtown, with a “proactive priority focus on the vicinity around the proposed shelter.”
City police, the fire department and The Mustard Seed — the Alberta organization contracted by the province to operate the shelter — also plan to work together and share information.
The safety plan promises police and fire department staff will be available throughout the surrounding areas “24 hours a day.”
In response to questioning from Coun. Mairin Loewen, The Mustard Seed’s Samantha Lowe said the organization will maintain its own site and collaborate with other service providers “in order to appropriately manage the surrounding areas.”
Andrea Calow, a full-time teacher at Bedford Road and co-owner at Second Act, said she was “very happy” with plans for extra security, but she “won’t be naive enough” to say there won’t be “significant changes” to the neighbourhood.
Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Mark Arcand said he felt “disrespected” that The Mustard Seed has not included STC in any conversations, instead saying they are “gonna tap us on the head and take care of First Nations people in the city.”
DON’T ‘LET THE PERFECT BE THE ENEMY OF GOOD’
Hill said he would not support the proposal, arguiing that due diligence was not done “on every possible location in the city of Saskatoon … We are making this the only solution, when that’s not actually factual.”
Hill said a mandate was put in place to send the city administration out to merely find “facilities that will house heads and beds,” and he believes something better can be accomplished.
Those voting in favour of the proposal collectively said that while it’s not a perfect resolution, it’s helpful and important at this moment.
Kirton commended the city administration, noting that staff “made some changes that made it more comfortable — not perfectly comfortable, but more comfortable — to be able to support this.
“If we don’t approve this shelter, safety on our streets is going to get worse.”
Mayor Charlie Clark said if there is an opportunity to “add 30 to 40 beds, we absolutely need to do it. There is no Plan B.
“There will not be another solution in the short term here,” he added.
Loewen acknowledged that the proposed shelter is a “minor intervention in what is a pretty overwhelming problem.” But she also said she “can’t imagine” waiting for a perfect solution and saying no to this proposal while presenting the city as a partner in fighting homelessness.
Jeffries echoed those thoughts, saying he won’t “let the perfect be the enemy of good.”
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