Question Period (14 May 2025)

From Hansard (14 May 2025)

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Addressing Homelessness and Status of Social Housing Units

April ChiefCalf: — Mr. Speaker, it’s clear where their spending priorities lie, and it’s not with the people of this province. Square One Community in Moose Jaw released a new point-in-time count. In 2023, there were 75 homeless people in the city of Moose Jaw. In 2024, there were 150. The count has doubled in a single year.

What is that minister’s plan to address homelessness in Moose Jaw and help families keep a roof over their head?

Hon. Terry Jenson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, Mr. Speaker, the work that Square One does in Moose Jaw is incredibly valuable. We were fortunate enough to have representatives from Square One in this legislature last week. My officials were able to meet with them. And in the coming weeks, I’m going to be in Moose Jaw, you know, having additional meetings with Square One, with some other CBOs [community-based organization] in Moose Jaw.

I’ve also been having conversations with the members from Moose Jaw North, Moose Jaw Wakamow. They’re on ground level. They talk to the people in their communities pretty much every day or every week on this issue. And this is work that’s going to continue not just in Moose Jaw but also in other centres around the province. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

 

April ChiefCalf: — That was a long answer, Mr. Speaker, so I’ll sum it up — nothing. They have no plan.

What they do have is housing. As of March 2025, there were 63 vacant public housing units in Moose Jaw. Now that’s not enough obviously, but it would be a start. However only five of those units are listed as available, meaning 58 are in too bad a condition to be rented out. And that government has only budgeted to repair 285 units across the entire province, Mr. Speaker.

To the minister: why did this government let 58 Moose Jaw housing units become unlivable, and how many years will it be until they’re fixed?

Hon. Terry Jenson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation works closely with different housing authorities around the province. There’s about 240 housing authorities, and in Moose Jaw, the Moose Jaw Housing Authority, they’re the ones that identify the units that need renovation and repair.

Now I take issue with the number the member opposite is saying — 285 units. Those are three major projects, Mr. Speaker, and the work on those three major projects has already started in Regina, as well as Prince Albert, and right in her own backyard at Westview Place in Saskatoon, Mr. Speaker.

We have committed $88 million in this year’s budget to renovation and repair, and part of that money will be going to Moose Jaw to the Housing Authority so that they can repair and renovate houses so we can get people housed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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