Saskatoon council approves downtown drop-in centre relocation

Council voted 7-4 to purchase a $1.64 million building on Idylwyld Drive to convert into a drop-in centre, using federal encampment-response funding; councillors have until the end of March to allocate the funds.

Saskatoon city council has approved acquiring a downtown property to serve as a drop-in centre. Councillors voted 7-4 to purchase a $1.64 million building on Idylwyld Drive. Funding for the purchase will come from a federal fund tied to the city's encampment response plan. Councillors have until the end of March to allocate that funding. Key details: - Council approved the purchase by a 7-4 vote for a $1.64 million building at 130 Idylwyld Drive. - Funding is drawn from a federal encampment-response fund and must be allocated by the end of March. - Nearby businesses and community members raised concerns about the location and said they were not consulted before the announcement. - City administration expects the new Idylwyld drop-in to open by Nov. 1 and will report on the future use of the current 325 Avenue C South site before that date. Summary: The council vote moves the property acquisition forward while local concerns about site selection and communication were voiced. Councillors must allocate the federal funding by the end of March, and city administration will report to council on the existing facility before the new drop-in opens.