News Releases

A lot located within the Central Industrial Area is the proposed site for a 60-bed enhanced emergency shelter operated by The Mustard Seed. The land at 170, 31 St. E. is owned by the Government of Saskatchewan and meets the following Saskatoon City Council-approved criteria:

• Room for approximately 60 beds
• Beds in an open shelter-type hall (with movable wall systems or partitions)
• Some private rooms (accessed internally)
• An area suitable for office space for site staff
• Showers, bathrooms, kitchen
• Internal and external gathering spaces (amenity spaces) available on site be considered
• Proximity to other services should be considered
• Zoned appropriately if possible, or applicable for designation under the City’s Emergency Residential Shelter zoning provision
• On February 28, 2024 City Council also directed that any site be at least 250 metres from an elementary school in the Saskatoon Public School or Greater Saskatoon Catholic School system

The Government of Saskatchewan will lead the design and construction of the enhanced emergency shelter and provide funding for its ongoing operations. It will be constructed to the requirements for an enhanced emergency shelter, including:

• Room for approximately 60 beds in an open shelter-type hall
• Flexible program and service space
• An area suitable for office space for site staff
• Showers, bathrooms, kitchen
• Internal and external gathering spaces available on site be considered

Community safety will be considered in all aspects of the design and construction of the shelter. 

The lot at 170, 31 St. E., and currently in use for Saskatchewan Polytechnic parking, is already zoned M3 -- General Institutional Service District, which means a Special Care Home is a permitted use. The site is fully serviced and zoned for this type of development. 

Subject to Council approval, the City will provide the following contributions to prepare the site: 

• Sidewalk construction from Idylwyld Drive along 31 St. E. to provide a clear sidewalk connection to the site at an estimated cost of $350,000
• Fence installation along the CPKC Rail line to the east of the site to inhibit access to and traveling along the railway corridor at an estimated cost of $50,000

An opening date of the new 60-bed enhanced emergency shelter will be finalized in the coming months. The Government of Saskatchewan and City are moving forward to respond to the increasing number of people experiencing homelessness in Saskatoon. The recent Point-in-Time Homeless Count revealed that Saskatoon is experiencing the highest number of individuals facing homelessness ever recorded: 1,499 people are experiencing homelessness, nearly triple the number recorded in 2022.

The City responded to this sense of urgency by identifying potential sites: since October 2023 and after receiving City Council direction, the City Administration has worked to identify suitable locations for the enhanced emergency shelter for Government of Saskatchewan review and approval. A temporary location downtown at 210 Pacific Avenue opened for 18 months in April 2025 while the search for the new site continued.

Enhanced Emergency Shelters

Enhanced emergency shelters operate 24 hours per day, seven days per week, providing clients with full access to shelter, three meals per day, case planning along with access to wrap-around supports to address wellness and cultural needs and assistance in connecting to services and help to transition to appropriate housing.

Since the announcement of the $40.2 million Provincial Approach to Homelessness in October 2023, the Government of Saskatchewan has collaborated with municipalities, Indigenous and community partners to deliver on its commitments, which include this enhanced emergency shelter in Saskatoon. Government will continue to work closely with the City to connect people experiencing homelessness with services and supports that meet their needs.

Neighbourhood Information Sessions

Neighbourhood Information Sessions will be held in September 2025 with representatives from the City, the Government of Saskatchewan and its service provider, The Mustard Seed, to learn about shelter operations including plans for safety and security around the facility when it is built. The City will be holding a special meeting for area businesses, stakeholders and the Central Industrial Area community and another session for nearby residents. Meeting information is available on saskatoon.ca/shelterspaces.
 

The Circle Drive eastbound ramp to Warman Road southbound will be closed on Sunday, August 17, starting at 7:30 a.m. for a streetlight cable fault repair. Detours will be in place guiding motorists around the event. This project is expected to take one day to complete, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Saskatoon Transit may be affected by these detours. Transit service alerts and real-time bus information are available on third-party apps like Transit and Google Maps Transit on desktop.

For more information about current road restrictions and construction, visit saskatoon.ca/construction.

Broadway Avenue will be closed at Ruth Street on Sunday, August 17, starting at 7:00 a.m. for roadway patching. Detours will be in place guiding motorists around the event. This project is expected to take one day to complete, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Saskatoon Transit may be affected by these detours. Transit service alerts and real-time bus information are available on third-party apps like Transit and Google Maps Transit on desktop.

For more information about current road restrictions and construction, visit saskatoon.ca/construction.

Various downtown roads will have closures on Sunday, August 17, from 4:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. for the annual Rock 102 Show and Shine. Detour signs will be in place to guide motorists around the event area. Drivers are reminded to drive carefully and watch for participants. The City thanks everyone for their patience.

The following roads will be closed for the event.

• 1st Avenue between 20th and 22nd streets
• 2nd Avenue between 20th and 23rd streets
• 3rd Avenue between 20th and 23rd streets
• 21st Street between 1st and 4th avenues
• 22nd Street between 1st and 4th avenues

For more information about current road restrictions and construction, visit saskatoon.ca/construction.

Nelson Road will be closed between Lowe Road and McOrmond Drive starting Saturday, August 16, at 7:00 a.m. for road resurfacing. Detours will be in place guiding motorists around the event. This project is expected to take two days to complete, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Saskatoon Transit may be affected by these detours. Transit service alerts and real-time bus information are available on third-party apps like Transit and Google Maps Transit on desktop.

For more information about current road restrictions and construction, visit saskatoon.ca/construction.