2025 Point-in-Time Count reveals rising homelessness trend

The most recent one-day count of people experiencing homelessness in Saskatoon found there are more individuals without stable housing in the city tallied than ever before.

The City of Saskatoon, in partnership with Saskatoon Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP), conducted Saskatoon’s fifth Point-in-Time (PiT) Count on October 16, 2025.

The count identified 1,931 individuals experiencing homelessness in the city. This figure represents an increase of 432 individuals experiencing homelessness over the 2024 count.

• Unsheltered – 725
• Encampments – 151
• Emergency Shelters – 327
• Transitional Homes – 444
• Systems – 47
• Hidden Homelessness – 237
• TOTAL* – 1931

The PiT Count provides a snapshot of the minimum number of individuals experiencing homelessness, both sheltered and unsheltered, across Saskatoon. This year’s count focused on enumerating individuals rather than conducting full surveys.

“This count represents the minimum number of individuals currently experiencing homelessness in Saskatoon, both sheltered and unsheltered,” says Lesley Anderson, Director of Planning and Development. “Beyond providing numbers at a single point in time, the data and demographic insights collected are critical for understanding the complex challenges faced by those affected.”

Anderson says this information will guide the development of more responsive, community-driven solutions that address immediate needs while supporting long-term strategies.

“The findings also reveal a concerning upward trend in homelessness, reinforcing the need for continuous monitoring,” Anderson says. “Tracking these changes over time will help us measure progress, adapt interventions, and ensure that resources are directed where they can have the greatest impact.”

More than 250 volunteers were dispersed across the community to count individuals staying in emergency shelters, transitional housing and unsheltered locations such as encampments. The data collected through their efforts will help inform local strategies and support services aimed at addressing homelessness in Saskatoon.

“SHIP is very thankful to all the volunteers and agencies that helped out with the PiT count. While this year’s PiT count was well-organized and successful we are always mindful that the numbers reflect real people who are experiencing poverty, mental health issues, addictions, family violence and other social challenges,” says Robert LaFontaine, Executive Director of the Saskatoon Housing Initiatives Partnership.

“It is now our work as a community to provide opportunities for those people and families to change their circumstances. We thank the City of Saskatoon for coordinating the PIT count and we hope to continue our partnership.”

A comprehensive report with data collected from the 2025 PiT Count will be released in early 2026.

The PiT Count is funded by the Government of Canada through Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy.

For additional information about the PiT Count, visit saskatoon.ca/pit.

*Key Terms

Unsheltered Homelessness − Without any form of shelter and residing in public places (i.e. streets, park, vacant buildings) or in areas not fit for habitation (i.e. cars)

Encampments – Outdoor locations with a group of tents, makeshift shelters or other long-term outdoor settlements, where two or more individuals are staying.

Emergency Shelters – Individuals residing in emergency shelters. It may include people who receive hotel/motel vouchers in lieu of emergency shelter. It does not include people who have security of tenure or who are in social or supported/subsidized housing.

Transitional Housing − Intended to offer a supportive living environment for its residents, including offering them the experience, tools, knowledge, and opportunities for social and skill development to become more independent and transition from homelessness to secure housing. It is considered an intermediate step between emergency shelter and supportive or independent housing, and has limits on how long an individual or family can stay.

Systems − Refers to people experiencing homelessness who spend the night in a health or correctional facility, such as: an urgent care facility; emergency department; hospital inpatient ward; detox, treatment or rehabilitation centre; correctional facility; or police holding cell.

Hidden Homelessness − Individuals experiencing hidden homelessness include those living temporarily with others without guaranteed residency (i.e., couch surfing) and staying in short-term rentals without secure tenure (i.e., self-funded motel/hotel).