City modifies 2026 Point-in-Time Count approach
The City of Saskatoon and the Saskatoon Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) are modifying the approach to the 2026 Point-in-Time (PiT) Count, originally scheduled for Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
The 2026 PiT Count was planned as an enumeration only, focused on collecting a snapshot of the number of people experiencing homelessness in Saskatoon. Approximately 250 volunteers were trained, and teams were in place to support the Count.
In recent weeks, there have been heightened concerns related to the systems and services that support people experiencing homelessness in Saskatoon. The City and SHIP recognize the challenging circumstances faced by individuals and families experiencing unsheltered homelessness, including those living in encampments.
Due to safety concerns related to potential protest activity which may affect the safety of volunteers, staff and community partners participating in the count, SHIP and the City have made a difficult decision: the unsheltered portion of the PiT Count will not move forward on October 6.
“The safety of volunteers, community partners, staff and people experiencing homelessness must come first,” said Lesley Anderson, Director of Planning and Development, City of Saskatoon. “We are grateful to everyone who was prepared to take part in this year’s Point-in-Time Count. Their continued commitment helps Saskatoon better understand homelessness and advocate for the coordinated supports our community needs.”
The City will be able to collect several data points that have been included in previous PiT Counts, including the number of people staying in emergency shelters, transitional housing and systems. The City will also work with the Saskatoon Fire Department to estimate the number of people living in encampments.
This information will continue to support the understanding of homelessness in Saskatoon and inform planning, advocacy and collaboration across housing, health and community safety systems.
The primary limitation of the modified approach is that it will not include information collected directly from people experiencing unsheltered homelessness, which is normally gathered through the PiT Count enumeration process. However, the more comprehensive version of the PiT Count, including full enumeration and survey, is already planned for 2027.
SHIP and the City thank the volunteers, community partners and staff who contribute to the PiT Count each year. Their efforts are deeply valued, and we hope they will remain engaged in future Counts.