(File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Susan McNeil

City Hall

Early look at homeless issue has some surprises

May 25, 2022 | 11:14 AM

An early glimpse into what has impacted the homeless situation in Prince Albert has some surprising information.

With a final report not expected until June, Dr. Chad Nilson was still able to update city council on some preliminary observations at yesterday’s executive committee meeting.

“This particular project is unveiling a lot of things that perhaps we didn’t know about the pressures on our systems, on our neighbourhoods, on our businesses,” said Nilson.

For instance, the time it takes to access health care can affect the homeless population.

“The linkages between those risk factors that are responsible for homelessness and other things that our city has been impacted with including long waits in the emergency room, crime, drug sales and usage,” he said. “There’s an undeniable tie between all these trends.”

Made in Saskatchewan

Find My Plus One: The Canadian App for Getting Out and Living Your Best Life

Mar 09, 2026

Riderville

Ask Not for Whom the Ed Hervey Tampering Window Opens!

Feb 02, 2026

Seniors Scene

New Year - New Habits

Feb 02, 2026

Council hired Nilson last fall to investigate some of the reasons for homelessness in Prince Albert and to find some solutions.

He talked to service providers as well as some of the people who are homeless.

“Many of them had never had a chance to speak and many of them don’t have a platform for speaking,” he said.

By the end of June, he will have a report on the consultative findings. The preliminary report on yesterdays’ agenda are not findings, Nilson stressed.

Along with looking for causes, Nilson is looking for consequences and ways that different groups can help solve the problem, like eliminating barriers.

Some of the groups or agencies involved include police, fire, Indigenous governments and mental health organizations.

While community response has been positive and there is strong buy-in, some challenges exist, such as busy staff, people and businesses tied up with year end reports and staff holidays.

Things that contribute to homelessness, according to the early information are unmanaged mental health and addictions, lack of client interest and the fact that the people who are homeless are constantly moving, COVID restrictions and a complete change brought on by crystal meth.

The next part of the project involves having the original reference group identify two or three of the 100 problems discovered as a sample run and find some local solutions.

“That will be able to demonstrate to partners, to stakeholders and most importantly to the community that there is action we have taken,” he said.

“I believe that the results of that exercise will serve as a good framer for a DNA that can be used to solve bigger problems related to homelessness and related to crime,” said Nilson.

It could also serve as a model to help solve other issues, he suggested.

—

susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow