Saskatoon, Regina working on solutions as more encampments pop up in frigid temperatures

Winter has settled into Saskatchewan and encampments have been popping up more frequently as people without homes try to stay warm.

Records sent to CBC News by the Saskatoon Fire Department show there have been 200 more encampments catalogued in the city in 2024 compared to this time last year.

Meanwhile, advocates are calling for action to get people off the streets.

St. Mary's Parish in Saskatoon opened the doors to its men-only warming centre last week, one week earlier than anticipated, in an effort to keep people warm.

"We'll see how the winter goes and whether this is a good solution for this year, or if more was needed," Gordon Taylor, the executive director of Salvation Army Crossroads, said. 

The Salvation Army operates the overnight warming centre in the church's basement. Taylor said on average about 120 people per night would seek warmth in the space last year — more on colder nights. 

An encampment on 20th Street, right across the street from St. Mary's, was taken down last week. The camp's leader told CBC that some people sought shelter at St. Mary's in the aftermath. 

Data from the Saskatoon fire department suggests that homelessness is on the rise in that city. As of this time in 2023, there had been 42 working fires at encampments reported in Saskatoon. This year that number has risen to 47. 

Not only have there been many more encampments recorded so far this year, the number of inadequately housed people in Saskatoon has risen by more than 600 people compared to this time last year.

The Regina Fire Department did not provide statistics from last year for comparison.

The Regina Fire Department confirmed Friday