Municipalities call on province to improve Sask. social assistance program

Saskatchewan mayors and councillors are calling on the provincial government to address the social assistance program.

Both mayors and councillors say they are dismayed at what they see on their communities’ streets with growing numbers of homeless people.

“Certainly with the warmer weather we are seeing people move out of shelters in some cases, finding places to sleep on park benches, under trees, wherever they can make a cardboard home and that’s not what we want to see,” vice president of Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA), Gerald Albers said.

The Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association believes Social Services bear responsibility for contributing to the situation.

“We continuously circle back to the SIS program where we continue to hear this from landlords that they are not prepared to rent to people because they are afraid they are not going to get paid,” Albers said.

• Download the CTV News app to get Saskatchewan breaking news alerts sent to your device

Laurie Richards is struggling to raise six children with money from social services and a part-time job.

“They need to cover all the utilities, they need to give more for the rental portion because there’s no way somebody can find someplace for rent on $875,” Richards said.

The provincial auditor has found that nearly a third of SIS program recipients are behind on utility payments totaling $4 million.

Social Services said it has made improvements.

“Introducing things like education and training incentive, increasing benefits two years in a row and of course implementing the direct pay option for clients with complex needs who might be at risk for homelessness,” Jeff Redekop, executive director, program design with the Ministry of Social Services said.

Municipalities aren’t convinced it’s working. They say assistance rates remain below the cost of living and people are being evicted because landlords aren’t being paid directly.