Saskatoon's Homelessness Count Reveals Significant Increase, Officials Acknowledge Imperfect Data
The most recent point-in-time homelessness count conducted in Saskatoon has revealed a troubling increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness, while officials simultaneously acknowledge that the count likely fails to capture the full scope of the crisis.
Stark Numbers Highlight Growing Crisis
On October 16, 2025, volunteers and city officials conducted a comprehensive count that identified 1,931 individuals experiencing homelessness in Saskatoon. This represents a substantial increase of 432 people, or 29 per cent, from the 1,499 recorded in the previous year's count. The breakdown reveals multiple categories of homelessness, including 725 unsheltered individuals, 444 people in transitional housing, 327 in emergency shelters, 237 considered "hidden homeless" who were couch-surfing or in unstable short-term rentals, 151 living in encampments, and 47 residing in health or correctional facilities.
"We Know We're Missing People"
Leslie Anderson, Saskatoon's director of planning and development, openly acknowledged the limitations of the count during a recent news conference. "We know we're missing people," Anderson stated, emphasizing that the point-in-time count provides only a snapshot of the situation. Anderson identified eviction and insufficient income as the primary drivers behind the increasing homelessness numbers, highlighting systemic economic challenges facing vulnerable residents.
Historical Context and Counting Challenges
The point-in-time counts have been conducted sporadically over the years, with increasing consistency in recent periods. The first such count in 2008 identified just 260 homeless individuals in Saskatoon, illustrating how dramatically the situation has evolved. Anderson noted that the 2025 count was less comprehensive than the 2024 version, featuring a shorter questionnaire for those surveyed. She referenced the 2022 count, which identified 550 individuals, as likely representing a significant undercount due to volunteer recruitment challenges.
Methodology and Community Partnerships
The city collaborates with Saskatoon Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) to conduct the count, mobilizing more than 250 volunteers each time. The process follows federal government guidelines to ensure standardization and comparability between communities. However, the study area doesn't encompass the entire city, focusing instead on specific neighborhoods including downtown, Riversdale, Confederation Park, Exhibition, Varsity View, sections along Eighth Street, and a portion of Central Avenue near the railyard.
Driving Community Response and Government Action
Anderson emphasized that these numbers are crucial for driving community discussions about the urgency of responding to homelessness. Many community partners, including the Salvation Army and Saskatoon Tribal Council, rely heavily on government funding to provide services. Anderson highlighted the importance of partnership with the provincial government in addressing the crisis, noting that the count data helps inform policy decisions and resource allocation.
The city plans to conduct a more comprehensive count in 2027, with subsequent counts scheduled every three years thereafter. These periodic assessments will continue to provide valuable, though imperfect, insights into Saskatoon's evolving homelessness landscape and the effectiveness of interventions aimed at addressing this pressing social issue.
