Community association urges province to address escalating crises in Saskatoon's Pleasant Hill
CBC
Pleasant Hill, a neighborhood in west-central Saskatoon, is experiencing an escalating crisis of homelessness, violence and addiction, according to Adam Pollock.
"We want the provincial government to make the necessary changes to the programs that are broken to make sure that this doesn't get worse," said Pollock, who is president of the Pleasant Hill Community Association and has lived in the neighborhood for 12 years.
He said there's been a dramatic influx of "vulnerable people across the city who are finding their way to Pleasant Hill for services that aren't being properly funded."
This means people are struggling and front-line workers can't keep up. Meanwhile, businesses and longtime community members are leaving.
Earlier this month, Affinity Credit Union announced it will close down its Saint Mary's Advice Centre come springtime after nearly 75 years in Pleasant Hill.
Mark Lane, Affinity Credit Union's CEO, told CBC the decision was due to a significant spike in safety concerns for staff and clients, as the "physical health needs and the mental health needs of the community have grown to a point where they exceed the financial wellness needs of the community."
Pollock fears this departure is indicative of what's to come.
"Businesses like that are pulling out, doctors are pulling out," he said. "I've been in conversations with a number of other businesses in the community who are saying that their clients are scared to come to get their services."
Pollock said the association is not suggesting vulnerable people leave the neighborhood, nor is it pointing fingers at the organizations trying to help, rather it believes the people and programs should be properly supported by government.
The association penned an urgent letter to political leaders, calling for change.
Pollock said front-line workers in Pleasant Hill are being bogged down by paperwork. He said the province should station income support workers in the neighborhood's community agencies, five days a week, beginning no later than Dec. 18, 2023.
"The people who are providing services in our community shouldn't be expected to be on the phone all day long trying to get people their identification back."
Pollock said the province must move faster to open up the city's new shelter spaces, noting it has promised to create 15 new complex needs shelter spaces and 60 new emergency shelter spaces (split across two sites) in Saskatoon over the next two years.
The community association said the province should establish "and open 30 new shelter beds by Jan. 1, 2024, and another 30 new beds by March 31, 2024." It also wants the province to establish a minimum of 80 new permanent supportive housing units for people with complex needs, with 40 units open by March 31, 2024.