Demand exceeds capacity: Vulnerable persons unit report shows increased need

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Calls received by Saskatoon’s police and crisis team more than tripled between 2019 and 2024.

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Saskatoon’s board of police commissioners meeting Thursday will discuss a report highlighting the increased use of the police’s vulnerable-persons unit.

The unit is made up of the police and crisis team (PACT) as well as crime free multi-housing (CFMH).

PACT offers a police response to people who are in need and face issues around mental illness and/or addictions.

The report said this team reduces arrests made for disturbance calls as well as emergency department visits, but can also resolve and de-escalate incidents, and can direct people to proper medical resources and community support agencies.

There are four teams within PACT, made up of an SPS officer and a crisis worker from the Saskatoon crisis intervention service.

“The demand for PACT continues to exceed capacity,” the report said.

PACT dispatches have increased year-over-year, with 949 calls in 2019 and 3,295 calls in 2024.

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The report said the number of PACT calls in 2024 was a 25 per cent increase from 2023.

Some examples of calls for PACT include attempted suicide, self-harm, welfare checks, and people suspected to be mentally ill.

“These calls have a mental health and/or addiction component and involve an emergent nature.”

Saskatoon’s healthcare system is struggling, with emergency departments frequently overburdened, and this effects the work PACT can do.

The report said PACT makes an effort to divert away from hospitals when possible, but noted that PACT members may end up waiting for care with subjects at emergency departments, which makes the team unable to respond to calls in progress.

An increase in demand was also seen for CFMH’s services in 2024, with 70 companies and condo boards partnered with the program, compared to 54 in 2023.

Information, training and security assessments of buildings are given to these partners, and the report said 1,344 buildings are currently being supported across the city.

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“Not a day went by in 2024 without an incident related to unhoused persons occupying or loitering in an apartment or condominium.”

The report said there were 2,682 calls related to this situation, with CFMH noting there has been an increase in violent crime and social disorder in multi-unit building hallways and stairwells across the city.

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