The City of Saskatoon has decided not to proceed with its scheduled in-person point-in-time count of individuals experiencing homelessness this year. Originally planned for Tuesday, the count involved around 250 trained volunteers aiming to quantify the homeless population in the city.
Citing safety concerns related to potential protest activity that could jeopardize the well-being of volunteers, staff, and community partners participating in the count, the city announced the cancellation in a news release on Friday. Recent weeks have seen escalated safety concerns, prompting this decision.
The fire department’s intention to clear a west-side encampment housing over 100 individuals was halted following protests from the residents and their supporters. Despite efforts to obtain a court injunction to prevent the removal, the request was denied by a judge.
Lesley Anderson, the city’s director of planning and development, emphasized the importance of prioritizing the safety of volunteers, community partners, staff, and the homeless population. The city plans to collaborate with the fire department to estimate the population in various encampments in Saskatoon and count individuals in emergency shelters, transitional housing, and other facilities.
Looking ahead, the city aims to conduct a more extensive point-in-time count in 2027, which will include a full enumeration and survey. The 2025 count revealed 1,931 homeless individuals in Saskatoon.
