Saskatoon encampments tripled in 2023: fire chief [Video]

Saskatoon’s fire chief says the number of encampments have tripled this year and shelters in the city are overflowing, as more people continue to experience homelessness.

Chief Morgan Hackl says the warming centre at St. Mary’s Church — which was established on a temporary basis for the winter — is routinely overcapacity.

On Tuesday, 143 people spent the night, he says. The shelter was intended for a maximum of 80 people when it opened in December.

“There’s an urgency around people having issues with their health, with frostbite, losing extremities,” Hackl said.

“I have a contact with a doctor who does a lot of these surgeries — he had one person where they amputated eight of their toes so far this winter. Another person, numerous fingers this winter.”

The St. Mary’s warm-up location averages 130 people per night, with another 30 people sleeping in the St. Paul’s emergency room. Hackl …