News Releases

Saskatoon Community Foundation Calls on Government and Community to Address Safety During COVID-19 Second Wave

Saskatoon, November 6, 2020—As Saskatoon faces a second wave of COVID-19, the demand for shelter beds is a growing cause for concern among front line workers and agencies serving vulnerable people in our city, and for Saskatoon Community Foundation. Housing insecurity also presents a safety risk for the entire community when conditions allow the virus to spread.

Shortages of shelter beds and a lack of funding for community services are priorities for agencies serving many of Saskatoon’s most vulnerable citizens. Now with COVID-19 cases spiking and cold weather coming, the city’s already high demand for shelter is increasing. Beyond emergency shelter and chronic homelessness, the pandemic has also created a new need to house individuals facing self-isolation because of COVID-19 exposure or diagnosis.

“The city’s shelter situation will soon be grave as many locations report increased demand forcing them to turn people away,” said Carm Michalenko, Saskatoon Community Foundation CEO.

Both government support and continued community support are needed to ensure safety within the shelter system in the city. “We are calling on our local and provincial governments to be at the table to work with the community to address safety. If we don’t protect those most vulnerable, then no one is protected,” said Michalenko.

A member of the Saskatoon Inter-Agency Response to COVID-19 (SIRC), the Saskatoon Community Foundation has collected donations and disbursed funds for a coordinated approach to address basic needs for vulnerable populations. Essentials like food, water, and personal protective equipment have been part of the community-led relief efforts over the last seven months, as agencies came together.

The foundation continues to accept funds for Saskatoon’s COVID-19 response. Donations may be designated through the Saskatoon Community Foundation website at saskatooncommunityfoundation.ca.

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Contact:

Carm Michalenko, Chief Executive Officer
Saskatoon Community Foundation
Finance Unit Lead for Saskatoon Inter-Agency for Response to COVID-19
Phone: 639-317-7853
Email: ceo@saskatooncommunityfoundation.ca

Don Ewles, Grants Manager
Saskatoon Community Foundation
Allocations Unit Lead for Saskatoon Inter-Agency for Response to COVID-19
Phone: 306-665-1767
Email: grants@saskatooncommunityfoundation.ca

Saskatoon Community Foundation:

With a vision to make Saskatoon the best community in which to live, the Saskatoon Community Foundation contributes to the quality of life in our city by building endowed and non-endowed funds, and by providing strategic grant making and philanthropic advisory services, as well community leadership and mobilization. Follow the Saskatoon Community Foundation on LinkedInFacebook and Instagram.