Open letter from Passion for Action Against Homelessness

Government Cuts Services to Core Communities

The Government surprised Quint Development Corporation by cutting money that supports the core staff of this very effective organization who create new and effective programs. Quint Development Corporation is a community organization serving five core communities in Saskatoon's. The services they provide range from assisting low income people buying and maintaining housing, assisting neighbourhoods to get organized to deal with social or other challenges, providing shelter for disadvantaged youths, and providing low income people with affordable housing among other things.

The cost of services provided by this not for profit organization are low and have a high rate of productivity for the money. It is much more cost effective to support people in flexible and supported housing initiatives such as Quint provides, than it is to build more prisons for the homeless, mentally ill and addicted, where the daily costs of housing a person are enormous.

While Quint’s track record in creating housing and employment opportunities for those at the bottom of the income ladder is undeniable, the government has cut funding that supports innovation, creativity and planning. This decision seems to fly in the face of some of the objectives outlined in their budget speech, namely, investing in Housing, Children and Families.

This is an attack on the core communities of Saskatoon and an attack on those already struggling with health, employment and housing issues. Passion for Action Against Homelessness recognizes this as a step backward and remarkably unbalanced against the most vulnerable in our society. The Government has an opportunity to reduce disparities to the disadvantaged, powerless, and vulnerable in Saskatoon through restoring funding to effective social agencies like Quint. Passion for Action Against Homelessness hopes that the Government of Saskatchewan will reconsider its position on this matter.



Passion for Action Against Homelessness