NDP MLA Kim Breckner told reporters in Prince Albert on Thursday that with winter coming, it’s growing more dangerous for people dealing with homelessness. “Direct to landlord payments for SIS clients, that’s just one piece of the larger puzzle that we need to address to tackle this homelessness crisis,” Breckner said. The NDP wants to address the homelessness crisis by bringing back direct to landlord payments for residents on Saskatchewan Income Support (SIS) and Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID). Breckner also stressed support for rent control and building more affordable housing. “It’s not just building more housing but building the right type of housing for the clients that we have,” she said. “Making sure that we have the right level of single individual homes, the right level of, you know, family homes.” Social Services Minister Terry Jenson said the province it isn’t looking to restore direct to landlord rental payments, because there are existing trusteeships in the province delivered through community-based organizations like the Salvation Army. “What the trusteeship does is it’s an individual that will work with the client,” Jenson told reporters in Saskatoon. “When the when the benefits come in, the trustee will ensure that their rent is paid, their utilities are paid, and then they work with that client to make sure that they’re able to learn how to budget their money.” He said these trusteeships could build a path to independence for those who use the program. “You can feed a man a fish you’ll eat for a day. But if you teach them how to fish, he will eat forever, and that’s the goal of having the trusteeship program.” Jenson said there are more than 1,000 active trusteeships in the province. A 2024 point in time count conducted in Prince Albert showed an increase in individuals experiencing homelessness, rising from 120 in 2022 to 230 in 2024.
