Saskatoon’s homeless population nearly doubled this year [Video]

Saskatoon’s homeless population is on pace to more than double in one year, according to data from the Saskatoon Fire Department.

During city council’s regular business meeting on Wednesday, councillors learned about the rapid growth of the city’s homeless population prior to approving a temporary homeless shelter downtown.

“If this trend keeps going, we’re going to outpace last year,” assistant fire chief Yvonne Raymer said during a joint presentation with Saskatoon police.

“And the astounding number is the number of unhoused individuals that we’ve encountered.”

Raymer said the fire department has counted 683 “inadequately housed” people between Jan. 1 and Sept. 15 this year. All of last year, the fire department counted 366 people in the same category. The year before it was 221.

“We know we’re dealing with the same individuals when it comes to unhoused, addicted, and our mental health concerns,” Raymer said.

If the current rate were …