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Saskatoon’s newly announced emergency shelter location is set to border Caswell Hill, but neighbourhood representatives said residents didn’t know that until the day before.
Caswell Hill Community Association communications coordinator Ty Johnson, said the location came as surprise, and the association only found out 24 hours before the public on Aug. 15.
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“The location and the decision for it was chosen without our approval. It was done without our consultation and legally, regrettably, we actually have no recourse,” he said.
According to the City of Saskatoon’s announcement, the permanent 60-bed emergency shelter will be in the Central Industrial area at 170 31st Street East, beside the Harry Bailey Aquatic Centre.
Since the site technically falls outside the boundaries of Caswell Hill, and the project doesn’t affect zoning bylaws, Johnson said the neighbourhood can’t do anything.
But because of the location, “obviously Caswell will be the most impacted neighbourhood,” he said.
While the site is the required distance from nearby St. Michael’s school and a nursing home on 31st Street West, Johnson said there are concerns the location will act as a funnel, guiding those entering and exiting the shelter towards these areas.
In addition to the other requests, Johnson said the community also wants to have a neighbourhood advisory committee set up. (Lara Fominoff/650 CKOM)
“I’m confident in saying there’s going to be no neighbourhood that has 100 per cent enthusiasm for a shelter being in their neighborhood,” he said.
Johnson said the association recognizes the urgency of providing safe and supportive spaces for the homeless in Saskatoon, but members don’t yet have answers on how their concerns will be mitigated.
The group has sent a letter to the key players related to the new shelter, outlining some requests if the location remains.
“We’d love to have a designated Saskatoon police liaison officer. We’d love to have a clear process for … our community members to report issues,” he said, adding the association wants this shelter to work in the “right way.”
“I love Caswell. It’s a community where people care for each other, and we like to think that love grows in our neighbourhood, but that means love and respect for both the housed and the unhoused people in our area,” Johnson said.
Twila Reddekopp, The Mustard Seed Saskatoon housing manager, shows off one of the suites for supported living residents at the shelter on Second Avenue South. (Lara Fominoff/650 CKOM)
The Mustard Seed to be a ‘good neighbour’
The Mustard Seed, which already runs a shelter on Second Avenue South and the temporary shelter on Pacific Avenue, is slated to operate the yet-to-be-built space.
Prior to opening its temporary shelter location earlier this year there were concerns about the site because of a dance studio, children’s occupational therapy clinic, and daycare within steps of the building.
“Here we are, talking about opening a shelter right beside three heavily programmed youth service providers that service over 1,000 youth through the course of each year,” former city councillor Darren Hill said.
“Where’s that consideration for youth that we had earlier this year? We don’t have it now.”
Weeks before its opening The Mustard Seed’s senior director of shelter operations Samantha Lowe emphasized how the temporary shelter wouldn’t allow for encampments or loitering in the area.
The organization has an online survey where people can provide feedback on each location, including the permanent shelter near Caswell Hill, which says “we want to learn how we can be a good neighbour to all who live and work in the area.”
The Mustard Seed says in the survey, that’s done in part by keeping the exterior of their buildings in line with the general neighbourhood and allowing people to request meetings with community engagement specialists.
The City of Saskatoon is hosting an information session for community members about the permanent shelter on Sept. 15 at 6:30 p.m.
Johnson said the meeting is limited to 250 people and it “might be tough to get a seat in there.”
— with files from Lara Fominoff and CKOM News
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