It’s been nearly two years since Saskatoon’s complex needs shelter opened, and the Saskatoon Police Service says the facility has become an essential tool in responding to public intoxication. “It’s been instrumental, really, in helping us work with individuals who are in the community who have complex needs, often addictions concerns,” Saskatoon police chief Cam McBride said. “And they provide really great care for people in need for people who are in that circumstance.” The complex needs shelter was the first to open in Saskatchewan after the province charted a new path in responding to homelessness and addictions with the Provincial Approach to Homelessness in October 2023. Finding a spot to open the 15-bed shelter designed to be a secure place where police can bring individuals who are exhibiting behaviours that present a danger to themselves or others wasn’t a straightforward process. The province tasked municipalities with finding a site, allowing the province to undertake new builds or renovations at a chosen location. McBride admits the police service wasn’t sure how these facilities would work in conjunction with police officers, but the early returns have been beneficial. “It took us a little while to understand the kind of the way of working with the facility,” he said. “It’s been a big help for us, honestly.” Saskatoon’s homeless population continues to grow. A point in time count last fall found 1,931 homeless people in Saskatoon. Advocates say the one-time count is a snapshot representation of the homeless and addictions crisis in the city. Rather than taking a person posing a risk to themselves or others to a detention cell or an emergency room, police can take a person to the complex needs shelter, where they can be held for up to 24 hours. Staffed with both nurses and mental health and addiction support workers, as well as security staff, patients are given access to basic health assessments, withdrawal support, wound care, navigation to mental health and addictions supports and other wraparound services. Since it opened in August in 2024, the complex needs shelter has seen nearly 4,000 patients, and the province says it’s making a difference. “The Government of Saskatchewan’s Complex Needs Facilities (CNF) are now a proven success story,” Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Lori Carr said in a statement to CTV News. “The CNF provides a safe place to stabilize the patient while being monitored for up to 24 hours for the negative effects of drugs or alcohol. These individuals are then connected to services such as addiction treatment, housing, income assistance and other wraparound supports.” Carr said nearly all of the 4,000 patients accept transportation to services and supports. After having some apprehension about how the shelter was going to affect the area, Alex Istifo, who owns Sardinia Family Restaurant located a block away, commends how staff have mitigated concerns. “We haven’t seen a lot of activities,” he said. “I think they’re doing a great job keeping it the way it is. They bring people in and then they take them away. We don’t have issues with the shelter.” For Naseef Rashid, owner of Nas-Motive, a car dealership across the street from the shelter, says it’s not people accessing the complex needs shelter causing issues, but those lingering and establishing encampments in the neighbourhood. “Yesterday, I had seven cars spray painted,“ he said. “We found human feces by the entrance at the back shop.” Aside from the perceived negative publicity of having a cop car parked next to his business with intoxicated people going in and out, Rashid says it’s the general petty crime that’s constantly worrying his staff and wearing them down. “It’s an ongoing thing. It’s not just today or yesterday — it’s always,” he said. In October, four vehicles were lit on fire after the dealership closed, which ultimately caused damage to the back of the business as well. Police found a 45-year-old suspect nearby and charged him with arson. He says there’s been windows broken on vehicles, with people found sleeping in them, as well. “We all have access to the cameras,” Rashid said. “Every time we’re at home, we’re just looking at the camera when it starts beeping.” With other unrest in the area keeping officers and businesses busy, police are pleased to change their response and have a health problem like severe addiction no longer be treated as a criminal issue. “Taking some of that burden of care and placing it in the hands of people who are better equipped or better trained to do that work,” McBride said.
