‘They need a home’: Saskatoon mayor talks homelessness with Grade 6 class

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What is the most important thing to know about homelessness?

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That was one of the questions posed by Grade 6 students in Melanie Wilkinson’s class at École Silverspring School when they met Mayor Cynthia Block on Wednesday.

“They need a home,” Block replied.

Wilkinson’s class has been reading The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman, a story about two sisters in India who flee an abusive household and end up living on the streets.

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Students have also been doing their own research on homelessness, looking at efforts to address it in places like California, Australia and the U.K.

They asked Block about the main reason for homelessness, why some people live under University Bridge rather than in shelters, whether a family reunification program could help, and what other kinds of supports are available.

“This is going to take all of us together,” Block told them, adding that she was inspired to see young people seeking a better understanding.

Saskatoon’s most recent point-in-time count found almost 1,500 homeless people in the city. Previous counts noted Indigenous people are overrepresented in the homeless population.

“When more people in one area are affected by a problem, we have to listen to their voices so that we get it right,” Block told the class.

Many factors contribute to homelessness, but Statistics Canada identifies one primary reason for it, she said.

“They can’t afford a home.”

Many people struggle with issues but still have a roof over their heads, she noted, adding that skyrocketing rent costs and an overall increase in home prices exacerbate the problem.

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While the city has been working to increase the stock of affordable housing, it’s also looking at other possible solutions, like advocating for rent control or encouraging the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation to get more of its homes ready for tenants.

A large number of homes owned by SHC require renovations before they can be occupied.

Block said the city has been exploring the reasons some people refuse to stay in shelters.

Saskatoon is full of people willing to help, but she thinks some just don’t know how, she told the class.

“What would it feel like if we actually had … maybe a whole week where we get all the media involved, and everyone takes on a role, and we roll up our sleeves and we start to figure out how to fundraise? … We can’t do things in tiny chunks, we need to do a big thing.”

With added pressure on police and firefighting responses, damages to infrastructure like the University Bridge fire on Monday, and other resources like health care being taken up by the homelessness crisis, it’s too expensive to keep the status quo, she said.

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