Sask. Opposition trumpets report criticizing social assistance programs

Saskatchewan's Opposition NDP says the provincial government needs to rethink its Saskatchewan Income Support (SIS) program after a new report found that some users feel the service failed to meet their basic needs.

"We need to fix SIS urgently," said NDP social services critic Brent Blakley at a news conference Tuesday.

For the report, the Saskatoon Poverty Reduction Partnership spoke with 35 users of the SIS or Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID) programs, along with 55 community service providers who often work with people using these programs.

The survey found "widespread dissatisfaction and significant gaps in meeting basic needs," according to the report.

Many of the people reported that the benefits these programs provide are not adequate to support basic needs, such as rent for housing, food and utilities. Many also pointed to a concern over financial pressures placed on income support clients.

The chief issue raised was a call for the province to reinstate direct payments for rent and utilities to landlords and utility companies, an issue that has been raised continuously since the change away from that system, according to the report.

"The SIS program, designed to help people in crisis is now pushing them over the edge. We've heard from shelters, from housing workers, from community agencies they move away from direct payment has failed," Blakely said.

In a statement, Social Services Minister Terry Jenson defended the government's changes to the SIS program.

Jenson said the ministry does directly pay rent and utilities, "for Saskatchewan Income Support (SIS) clients who require it."

He also noted that the SIS monthly benefit has increased four years in a row, with the most recent increase if two per cent coming into effect in May as part of the most recent provincial budget.

Critics have said that increase is not nearly enough to assist those living on the edge of poverty.

Homelessness in Saskatoon

The NDP also drew a line between support for those in poverty and the growing number of homeless people in Saskatoon.

The latest point-in-time count in the city found that on a particular day in 2024, there were 1,499 people experiencing homelessness. That's nearly nearly triple the number reported in 2022.

"This isn't just a number. These are people, families, seniors, youth sleeping in cars, in tents or on the street and this didn't happen overnight. It's the direct result of government choices," said NDP housing critic April ChiefCalf.

ChiefCalf said the province has allowed housing costs to rapidly increase while refusing to fix vacant housing units owned by the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation.

That's left thousands of units across the province damaged and empty, Chiefcalf said.

A report by the provincial auditor released last year found the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation owned approximately 3,000 units in Regina.

The report said that of the 534 units vacant in the province's capital, 364 were out of service and needing repair. At that same time, 404 households were waiting for social housing units.

Minister Jenson said this year's provincial budget will begin to address the issue of provincial-owned housing, with $9.2 million in spending going to multi-year repair and renovation projects to 285 Saskatchewan Housing Corporation units, including 44 units at Westview Place in Saskatoon.