SASKATOON — Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Mark Arcand has called out some business owners in the downtown area voicing their concerns that the Wellness Centre, instead of having a long-term solution, is just a temporary fix on the city’s homelessness issue.
Arcand said he disagrees with how some of the business owners view the Wellness Centre, a temporary shelter located at 145 1st Avenue North in the heart of the city’s downtown area. The two-storey building can accommodate 50 people.
“I want to call them out, because I look at this and I can say: we had a plan. We went to four different areas of the city. I’ll say it again publicly and they [business owners] need to hear this they need to step up and be part of the solution,” said Arcand.
“I only look at one thing: you’re either talking about and only worried about your business or you’re not worried about the community. I’m worried about both. I want people to be part of the solution and when we tried to find a facility, nobody would help us. That's the truth.”
He added that they looked at facilities in the east, north, south and west sides of the city — away from the downtown area — but they could not get any of it.
“Those warehouses are still open to this day. Churches were also full and we couldn’t get into anywhere. Why are they concerned about us being open in an emergency situation? We're trying to help people,” he said. “I encourage these businesses to call me and talk to me, and we'll work it out. Because this is about the safety of people. We want our citizens and our people to be contributing to the city. But we've got to work together. It's not about us versus them [business community]. The business community always say: I want to help them but not at my backyard. So, which backyard you guys [businesses] tell us and we’ll work with wherever you want to put this place or in any place for that matter.”
Arcand said that he was vocal to having the Wellness Centre away from the city’s main business district.
“They've got to make a decision and they got to step up and they got to do the right thing, which is we have to work with together. This is the only place that we can get, and the City of Saskatoon stepped up and found us this place.”
He continued, “Like I said, I went to Sutherland, I went to Jessop Avenue, I went to 20th Street, and I went to 45th Street. These were the places where we worked with realtors to get a facility. Nobody would lease us a facility, for whatever their reason is, and we respect that. But we had no other option and the City stepped up and provided us this facility. It doesn’t matter where it is, to some people it does and to some it doesn’t.”
He added that this is only a current solution to the homelessness crisis, especially during the winter months, but is also looking at a bigger picture.
“There are more people supporting what is the right thing to do, which is to help the people. Is it a temporary solution? It is, until April 2022. But we see a bigger need here and I think the community sees it too. We all got to work together to make that it would be successful.”
He was vocal about having the facility in another area of the city.
“I've said this publicly: I don't want it at downtown Saskatoon because I don't want people leaving and accessing negativity. I want to provide services. It's a wellness place. So, the community has to understand that they go to work with us if they find us a different place. We'll move, but somebody is going to step up. Nobody's stepping up.
“The City of Saskatoon stepped up, they amended their bylaws, they found us a place, and did an in-kind contribution waving our tenancy costs and everything else. That's trying to do something for people. So that's what we're looking for. Do I want to move right now? I think we've gained some traction. But if there is another organization that wants to give us another facility, that's better, a better location. We're in, pick up the phone and call me.”
He reiterated that consumption of substances is not allowed in the facility. They are going to let everyone stay in the facility, even intoxicated individuals, as long as there’s still space.
“What we said was no consumption. So, you can come in even if you're coming in intoxicated. We're going to take you, you're coming in. If you have drugs, we're going to take it. You got to leave all your stuff here [bins]. You can't take anything into your room and then go to other rooms.”
