Dear Mayor Clark, Saskatoon City Council, Minister Hindley and Minister Merriman,

Shelter facilities play a vital role in supporting our most vulnerable neighbours. Without these facilities, and the compassion and dedication of those who operate them, vulnerable individuals and families would be left to the elements and more people would be living dangerously on our streets.

It matters where shelter facilities are located and what services they provide. When shelter services are inserted into locations and buildings ill-suited to support their activities, the implications can be severe for all stakeholders, especially those who rely on the services provided.

We understand that a new emergency residential shelter is proposed for 1701 Idylwyld Drive North. As you discuss the merits and challenges of this location, we urge you to consider the recommendations we have proposed over the last 36 months:

1. Stronger shelter requirements

• Revise the current development permit for Emergency Residential Shelters to a period of no more than 9 months.

• Clarify how input from area stakeholders would be solicited and considered as part of any renewal application.

• Beyond “Good Neighbour Agreements” develop stronger standards and penalties to incentivize adequate property maintenance, management of tripping hazards and garbage, accountability for loitering, and exterior monitoring by the operator.

• Require facilities to provide adequate spaces for cultural ceremony.

• Require facilities to provide on-site outdoor spaces, in proportion to the number of people they shelter, with suitable access to the facility that will not impede arterial roadway traffic or surrounding businesses.

2. Enlist private security

With the opening of this facility, there will be increases in incidences of vandalism, property damage and incivilities in the neighbouring area. Given that police resources are scarce, we suggest that City Council explore implementing an alternative crime prevention strategy, similar to those seen in Halifax and Calgary.

The City of Calgary’s pilot project in its East Village employs private security guards to patrol the area and serve as a deterrents of crime. These officers are trained to provide assistance, interject when necessary and guide individuals to social services. In addition, a “Safety Hub” is centrally located in the neighbourhood. This space serves as an outpost for city police officers, private security and community support workers to utilize while patrolling the area. By utilizing private security, specialized and highly compensated police officers can focus their efforts elsewhere to keep our city safe.

3. Compensation and fairness for businesses

Local business owners in the vicinity of shelter facilities are left to deal with vandalism, property damage, and petty crime with the increase of vulnerable people in the area. Direct costs involve significantly higher insurance, security, hiring, and capital repair/replacement costs. Dollars spent in these areas mean fewer dollars to create the jobs and generate economic activity we all need to keep our city growing.

We urge the province to consider a rebate that could be provided to small and medium size businesses who are incurring the costs of keeping our local communities clean, safe, accessible and open for business. A similar program has recently been launched in BC to support small businesses in recovering expenses due to property damage, crime and vandalism, and to recoup expenses related to crime prevention.

At the municipal level, businesses adjacent to shelter facilities fear the effects on their property value and uncertainty for the safety of their employees and customers. We urge the City to explore the possibility of providing a tax subsidy for the duration of the temporary shelter contract to surrounding commercial property owners. 

Your efforts to balance the needs of everyone affected by homelessness, mental health and addictions are important and appreciated. Know that we stand ready to work with you to address today’s challenges and safeguard the prosperity for our city and province.