Sask. government spends $1.5 million on hotel rooms for people experiencing homelessness

WATCH: The Government of Saskatchewan has selected two hotels to provide temporary accommodation for people experiencing homelessness.

The Government of Saskatchewan has selected two hotels to provide rooms to “vulnerable individuals and families.”

The province is spending about $1.5 million on these hotel rooms for the year, according to an online Request For Proposal (RFP).

The contracts include $613,570 for the Country Inn and Suites in Saskatoon and $960,662 for the Travelodge Suites in Regina, according to the RFP award details.

CTV News has contacted the Ministry of Social Services for more information on how these rooms will be used.

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Both hotels previously participated in a one-year pilot project launched in August 2024, which cost the province about $1.2 million.

At that time, the government said the hotel rooms would only be used in emergency situations when shelters were full.

The NDP criticized the renewed reliance on hotels.

“Not only is this a horrible use of taxpayer dollars, it doesn’t give people the supports they need to get back on their feet,” NDP MLA April ChiefCalf said.

ChiefCalf said the province should be investing in affordable housing instead. She said the NDP plans to introduce legislation next week aimed at capping rent increases.