Downtown Saskatoon sees a ‘considerable difference’ in area around the Lighthouse

Twila Reddekopp patrols the street with a security staff member

It’s been just under two months since the Mustard Seed has taken over operation of the former Lighthouse building in downtown Saskatoon, and some people are seeing a notable difference in the area.

Mustard Seed staff conduct periodic checks around the building, which has been key to recent success. Staff are getting to know the people who hangout outside the building, who are not residents.

“Do they have anybody in Saskatoon that can support them? We go through a few of those things, and then we try and guide them to different places where they can get the support that they need. We just now make time to do that,” Twila Reddekopp, Mustard Seed housing manager for Saskatoon told CTV News.

It’s a shift in philosophy that residents and staff like, according to Reddekopp who was part of the previous staff.

“I think it’s going to resonate with the community. Things have really started to improve outside the building. So, that we hope to carry inside the building as well,” she said.

The Downtown Saskatoon Business Improvement District (BID) said it’s noticed less people gathering outside the building.

“I’ve seen a considerable difference by The Mustard Seed Housing in regard to less unhoused hanging around and less garbage pickup that our clean team have had to attend to. The Mustard Seed group and I have had a meeting to get acquainted when they first took over and they operate with the intent of being a good neighbour,” BID executive director Shawna Nelson told CTV News in an email.

Nelson also mentioned she’s heard positive feedback from businesses in the area.

Terry is a resident who lives in a suite at The Mustard Seed Housing. He did not want CTV News to use his last name, but he says this place has made all the difference in his life by giving him an affordable rental at about $900 a month. He says now that it is strictly a supported living building, safety has improved.

“It’s not bad anymore. The Lighthouse is not the scary place to live,” he said.

When asked if he feels safe in the building, he said yes, adding food delivery drivers and mail carriers won’t enter the building because there’s a perception of it being unsafe.

Terry says his rental fee gives him medical support, and his pills are kept in a central location and handed out by staff, he also gets three meals a day.

Twila Reddekopp says part of the reason things are improving could be because there are fewer people in the building overall. That’s due in part to a fire in the western tower in the summer which caused residents to move into the east building.

There are a variety of programs, some are culturally based with elders visiting, as well as weekly events like yoga and movie nights.

“One of the keys I firmly believe is to keep them busy, but it has to be things they enjoy doing,” Reddekopp said.

There’s also a gym in the works.