Winters in Saskatoon are defined by extremes. Temperatures regularly plunge to -40 C, sometimes lingering for days or weeks at a time. The snow falls, the wind cuts deep and survival becomes the priority. This is a reality we cannot change. What we can change, however, is how we respond to another crisis that has gripped our city for years: housing and homelessness.

Saskatoon’s 2025 Point-in-Time Count revealed that 1,931 individuals were experiencing homelessness in our city—an increase of 432 people compared to 2024. Behind every number is a person facing not only the danger of extreme cold, but also the daily weight of poverty, trauma, addiction and isolation. For those without stable shelter, the cold is not just uncomfortable, it is life-threatening.

For more than 100 years, The Salvation Army in Saskatoon has worked to relieve pressure on vulnerable individuals and the systems that support them through Crossroads Residential Services. Our ministry unit operates six core programs year round and, for the past three winters, has launched a seasonal initiative with one clear mandate: to save lives.

St. Mary’s warming centre was created in response to an urgent community need for additional overnight shelter spaces during the harshest months of the year. In partnership with St. Mary’s Parish, a Catholic church, and the Saskatoon Friendship Inn, we opened our doors to provide a safe, warm place for men to escape the cold. Open seven days a week from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m., St. Mary’s offers dignity, compassion and hope. 

NEW PARTNERSHIP

This year’s project has been particularly strong, thanks in part to a new partnership with the Saskatoon Trades and Skills Centre (STSC). Last summer, STSC developed a specialized community shelter worker course tailored to our staffing needs. They opened their classrooms, engaged facilitators and offered new hires the opportunity to receive training in 14 key areas before stepping into their roles in November.

As Karen Cederwall, executive director of STSC, shared, the goal was to “ensure the proper staffing levels required of the overnight men’s shelter run by The Salvation Army. While this sounds simplistic, it provided great learning opportunities not only for the STSC participants, many with lived experience who took part in the course, but also for staff and leadership of both agencies as we worked together to realize skills for a stronger community.”

This winter, our staff supported an average of 110-120 men each night. As of March, 969 individuals had accessed the warming centre, representing more than 12,000 visits. These numbers speak to both the scale of the need and the importance of a sustained, co-ordinated response. 

PRAYER AND PRESENCE

Support at St. Mary’s extends beyond shelter. Thanks to a partnership with the Saskatoon Friendship Inn, guests receive supper and breakfast. Volunteers organized by St. Mary’s mission and outreach ministry regularly join us to host movie nights, facilitate conversations and simply sit and listen. Many offer prayer. All offer presence.

Connection is one of the most pressing needs among those we serve. Our seasonal project survey last year revealed that meaningful relationships ranked among the top needs expressed by guests. Many struggle with profound loneliness and a deep lack of trust. Each evening, our prayer and our purpose are the same: that every person who walks through our doors feels welcomed, supported and valued.

Behind the scenes, a dedicated leadership team ensures the project’s strength and sustainability. Our lead chaplain and modern slavery and human trafficking co-ordinator provide essential support to front-line staff, organizing debrief sessions to process the emotional weight of this work. Our program co-ordinator and shelter manager maintain a consistent on-site presence, ensuring that goals are met and standards upheld. From finance and property management to executive leadership and administrative support, the entire Crossroads team is mobilized around one vision: to share hope wherever there is hardship. 

CRITICAL CONVERSATIONS

The work at St. Mary’s has inspired our broader community. It has been covered by local media, discussed at city council and has opened doors for The Salvation Army to engage with multiple levels of government and community stakeholders. These conversations are critical. If we are to address homelessness in a meaningful way, we must continue building systems that respond to poverty, addiction, mental-health challenges and the lack of affordable housing.

Winter in Saskatoon will always be cold, but as a community, we can ensure that compassion is stronger. Through partnership and unwavering commitment, St. Mary’s warming centre stands as a testament to what is possible when we come together to care for one another. 

ROGER YENKINS is the director of housing services for Saskatoon Community Services.

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