Home / Health / City Cuts Water for Homeless Amid Heat Wave
City Cuts Water for Homeless Amid Heat Wave
28 May
Summary
- City council cut $50,000 in funding for essential water supply.
- Vulnerable individuals seeking water increased significantly this year.
- Heat emergency plan activated as temperatures climb.
Saskatoon city council has eliminated a $50,000 funding stream that provided crucial water bottle distribution to vulnerable populations. This decision is expected to cause significant hardship, particularly as daytime temperatures have already surpassed 30 C this week. Station 20 West, a community center, reports that 400 to 450 vulnerable individuals are seeking assistance daily, a substantial increase from the approximately 100 people who visited last summer.
Colleen Christopherson-Cote of the Saskatoon Poverty Reduction Partnership highlighted that the center distributed around 2,000 bottles weekly last year. She expressed concern that the city council underestimates the growing need and has reduced a basic service. While the city points to public fountains and filling stations, Christopherson-Cote noted these are insufficient for vulnerable individuals who may lack bottles or struggle to locate them, especially in core neighborhoods west of downtown.
The city activated its Level 2 extreme heat emergency plan this week, underscoring the urgent need for accessible water. Christopherson-Cote also suggested that providing water can de-escalate potentially costly situations, preventing the need for police intervention. The closure of Prairie Harm Reduction has further complicated the support network for the city's vulnerable residents.
