Saskatoon harm reduction workers want vulnerable people out of the cold as winter approaches

Last winter, temperatures in Saskatoon dropped below -30 C more than a dozen times. Workers who care for the people sleeping outdoors — or who overdose outdoors — are preparing to help those in need survive this winter.

"People from everywhere need to find warm places and I believe that everybody should have that ability to have a warm place, have a meal in your tummy, regardless of mental capacity or addiction," said Amanda Kolinski.

Kolinski said she was homeless and an addict before she became the administrative supervisor of Edwards Manor, a harm reduction facility in Saskatoon that houses chronically homeless people who have addictions and mental health issues, and aren't always welcome elsewhere.

The Manor opened in 2018 as a 23-unit affordable and supportive housing building that offers clean supplies to substance users, drug testing kits and naloxone on-site, resources to become sober and food. Kolinski said there isn't always enough staff or room to support as many people as she would hope.

"I do believe they need more facilities similar to this with these options," Kolinski said of Edwards Manor.

Another facility is being built next door to Edwards Manor and is expected to be completed in the winter, she said.

According to the Saskatoon Community Foundation's Vital Focus on Homelessness in Saskatoon report, there were about 550 people experiencing homelessness in Saskatoon at the end of April 2022.

There were 16 people who died of hypothermia or exposure across Saskatchewan in 2022-23, according to preliminary data from the Saskatchewan Coroners Service. 

The Coroners Services said it doesn't break down the number of deaths by each city.

The 16 deaths are fewer than the two years prior — 30 deaths in 2021-22 and 25 in 2021-20.

"We've often allowed family members to spend the night because it's going to be -50," Kolinski said.

LISTEN | CBC's Danny Kerslake spoke with a harm reduction worker and one of the people they help: 

Saskatoon Morning6:49Facing Winter, Part 1: The cold is moving in, and that has people scrambling to make sure there's housing for everyone

Host Leisha Grebinski speaks with Saskatoon Morning's Danny Kerslake who visited Edwards Manor, where people with "complex needs" can find home.

The Manor is more than a shelter for the people who live there.

"I am proud of what I have," Glenna-Michelle Marsh said.

Before living in Edward's Manor, Marsh worked as a cleaner, but lost that job because of her drinking. She said she used to live in a tent, then at The Lighthouse Supported Living in downtown Saskatoon, before eventually finding a home in the Manor.

Marsh said she was sexually abused throughout her life, beginning when she was young.

"Nobody understands where I came from. I've been hurt so much all my life, but I take care of myself the best way I know how to and I just keep going forward."

Sask. drug toxicity deaths to surpass 2022

Prairie Harm Reduction in Saskatoon's Riversdale neighbourhood recently extended the hours for its safe consumption site over the winter months.

"We've seen an increase of complex overdoses in the evening that staff in the drop-in have been having to attend to outside," said Kayla DeMong, its executive director.

LISTEN | Prairie Harm Reduction executive director on the facility expanding hours to meet dire need: 

Saskatoon Morning10:13Facing Winter, Part 2: People who have worked with the city's most vulnerable people for decades say the crisis is the worst it's ever been

And with winter coming, there is growing concern about people overdosing and dying in the cold. Host Leisha Grebinski stops by Prairie Harm Reduction to find out how they plan to cope.

The community is in the worst state she's ever seen in her 20 years working in and around it. She said there are multiple overdoses each night that staff are having to manage after the safe consumption site has closed for the day, a burden that can weigh on them mentally.

"The thought of that continuing all winter in the cold really became something we that felt we couldn't not respond to," she said.

Across Saskatchewan there have been 369 suspected or confirmed drug toxicity deaths as of Oct. 11, 2023, already matching the total for all of 2022.

There have been 41 confirmed drug toxicity deaths in Saskatoon so far this year. It is unclear from provincial statistics how many others are still under investigation.