The petition follows two letters sent to the Provincial Government requesting further action be taken to support vulnerable populations. The first letter was written by Mayor Charlie Clark with the support of leadership from First Nations, Metis, police, fire, and over 40 community based organizations. The second letter was penned by Moose Jaw Mayor Fraser Tolmie and signed by the mayors of Saskatchewan’s largest cities.
“We are hearing from front-line organizations that significant barriers still exist to people trying to access housing and other services,” said Barb Fornssler. “This puts vulnerable people at risk to both contracting and spreading COVID-19 in the community.”
Fornssler added that “Premier Moe and his government have done a good job of putting in place social distancing and isolation measures to help protect the people of Saskatchewan and flatten the curve of infection. We are asking them to take these additional steps to make sure that no one is left behind when it comes to protection against this deadly virus.”
The petition echoes the 4 points of action put forward in the two letters including: 1) increasing funding support for urban Indigenous populations; 2) approving ‘block funding’ for existing shelter services to allow clients to be separated and physically-distanced in their facilities; 3) implementing hotel-based shelter services in collaboration with frontline agencies, Saskatchewan Health Authority, and the Provincial Government; 4) resolving confusion about reporting processes, wait-times, available resources, and options for alternate hotel accommodations and costs.
“It is urgent to resolve these issues so that people get the support they need to socially isolate and maintain their health,” said Fornssler. “We know that COVID-19 will be very difficult to contain if it begins to spread within vulnerable populations. That will not only put these individuals at unnecessary risk, but also healthcare providers, the medical system, and community at large.”
