Full Breakdown
Saskatoon Encampment Removal Sparks Mixed Reactions
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: City Clears Encampment on Private Property
Earlier this week the City of Saskatoon ordered the removal of an encampment located on city-owned private land at 20th Street and Avenue K South. In a news release the city reported that 80 tents were taken down and that roughly 120 people left the site. City officials framed the action as necessary after citing incidents of violence, alcohol, and drug activity that they said threatened both residents of the encampment and the surrounding community.
Outreach Groups Respond
Shirley Isbister, president of the Central Urban Métis Federation Inc. (CUMFI), expressed sadness over the takedown but argued it was unavoidable given the safety concerns. She noted that many displaced individuals have moved to CUMFI’s nonprofit facilities and to a mobile housing bus that provides Wi-Fi and housing contacts. Melissa Zimmer, president and founder of Bridge City Warmth, a volunteer supply-distribution group, said her organization had been visiting the site multiple times a day and, after the removal, assisted five people in finding housing while fielding a surge of calls for assistance. Both groups highlighted ongoing barriers to permanent housing and the approaching winter as pressing challenges.
Impact on Homeless Residents
The displacement has scattered former encampment residents across Saskatoon, with some securing shelter spots before local shelters reached capacity. CUMFI’s on-site bathrooms and showers are slated to close at the end of the month in anticipation of colder weather, underscoring the urgency of finding alternative accommodations. Bridge City Warmth has issued a call for blankets, jackets, and other cold-weather supplies to meet the immediate needs of people who remain on the streets.
Data & Statistics
- 80 tents removed (City of Saskatoon)
- Approximately 120 people left the encampment (City of Saskatoon)
- Five individuals housed through Bridge City Warmth’s post-removal efforts (Zimmer)
Verbatim Quotes
- “We have a lot of encampments here. And we have the bathrooms, and we have the showers but it’s also getting cold,” — Shirley Isbister, president of the Central Urban Métis Federation Inc
- “People gather and they stay in the encampments because that’s where they’re happy.” — Isibister
- “Since the encampment’s been taken down, we’ve had all kinds of calls, text messages, emails just looking for assistance with housing, and just we’re finding that there’s just so many barriers for those looking for housing,” — Melissa Zimmer, president and founder of Bridge City Warmth, a volunteer group
- “When we showed up last night at our street patrol, we left with nothing. People need stuff. They’re cold, they’re hungry, they’re tired,” — Melissa Zimmer, president and founder of Bridge City Warmth, a volunteer group