Saskatoon residents are increasingly concerned about the issue of homelessness, as indicated by an annual survey conducted by city hall. The survey revealed that 35% of respondents identified homelessness as the most pressing concern, showing a significant rise of 12 percentage points from the previous year. This marks the third consecutive year that homelessness has topped the list of issues in the survey.
The top three concerns in the survey, which largely revolve around challenges faced by unhoused individuals and addiction crises, remained consistent with the previous year’s results. Crime, safety, and policing were cited as the primary concern by 21% of respondents, followed by housing at 11%.
Forum Research Inc., commissioned by city hall, conducted the annual online survey among Saskatoon residents to gauge opinions on various issues, values, and perceptions. The survey involved 398 online panelists residing in Saskatoon and was carried out from July 11 to Sept. 2. As the survey did not involve a random sampling of residents, a margin of error cannot be determined.
Other significant issues highlighted in the survey included drug addiction/opioid crises and concerns about property taxes and city spending, each identified by 10% of respondents. Road maintenance and snow removal were also areas of concern, with 9% of respondents expressing worry about these issues.
A large majority of respondents, nearly two-thirds, indicated a willingness to contribute a monthly amount to address homelessness. Among them, 31% were open to paying $5 to $9 per month, while 28% were willing to contribute $15 or more monthly.
The survey also revealed that nearly 75% of residents believe the city should provide increased support for individuals without shelter. However, only 2% placed sole responsibility for homelessness on city hall. Sixty-three percent felt that both the federal and provincial governments shared responsibility with the city, while 22% viewed homelessness as a provincial jurisdiction.
Furthermore, about 80% of respondents urged Saskatoon city hall to allocate more resources toward addressing homelessness, with nearly three-quarters advocating for increased efforts to enhance the housing supply in the city. The survey results will be deliberated by the Saskatoon city council during its governance and priority committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday, with past surveys having influenced budgetary decisions.
In addition, the survey highlighted that a significant number of residents (68%) have made substantial lifestyle adjustments to curb expenses amidst the housing crisis. Many residents contemplated relocating to more affordable areas, both outside Saskatoon and within the city. Concerns regarding crime in Saskatoon were prominent, with 82% rating it as somewhat (51%) or very (30%) high, although a majority (58%) still felt somewhat (41%) or very (17%) safe in the city, with over three-quarters considering their neighborhoods safe.
Lastly, while two-thirds of respondents expressed satisfaction with city hall communication, this figure has seen a decline from 86% in the previous year.