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 — …