The City of Saskatoon has announced the cancellation of its in-person point-in-time count of homeless individuals, citing safety concerns. The assessment, scheduled for a Tuesday release, was set to deploy roughly 250 trained volunteers to tally unhoused residents across the city. In a news release issued Friday, municipal officials attributed the cancellation to potential protest activity that could endanger staff, volunteers, and community partners. The city noted that these safety worries have intensified over recent weeks. Preparations for the count coincided with heightened tensions surrounding a large west-side tent encampment. The fire department previously announced plans to clear the camp, which houses more than 100 people, though the action was temporarily delayed following pushback from residents and advocates. David Fineday, an advocate residing in the encampment, expressed frustration over the city’s framing of the situation. “It’s giving these people a negative message,” Fineday said. “It’s not a protest, we’re not marching anywhere, we’re standing up here for our rights.” Although advocates subsequently filed for a court injunction to halt the encampment clearance, a judge ultimately rejected the request. Lesley Anderson, Saskatoon’s director of planning and development, emphasized that participant and community safety remains the top priority. “The safety of volunteers, community partners, staff and people experiencing homelessness must come first,” Anderson stated. She expressed appreciation for those who volunteered, noting that their dedication helps the city grasp local homelessness challenges and advocate for necessary coordinated support systems. To adapt to the cancellation, municipal authorities will collaborate with the fire department to approximate the population residing in local encampments. Additionally, officials will tally individuals utilizing emergency shelters, transitional housing, and other formal support systems. Fineday questioned the allocation of municipal resources, suggesting that funding might be better redirected toward housing solutions. “Maybe instead of doing a PiT count and spending a quarter of Saskatoon’s budget on the police, maybe they should spend that much on affordable housing,” he said. The primary drawback of the revised methodology is that the 2026 data will lack direct input collected from unsheltered individuals. However, the city confirmed that a comprehensive point-in-time count featuring full enumeration and direct surveys is already scheduled for 2027. Previous figures from the 2025 count documented 1,931 homeless individuals living within Saskatoon.
Source: cbc.ca
