Several hundred of Saskatoon’s most vulnerable population were given a bit of a break on Monday.
The city’s homeless were able to partake in YXE Connects, an event which provides several services to the vulnerable population for free.
The event took place White Buffalo Youth Lodge and City Centre Church and aims to bring service providers and community agencies to one location to offer free service’s to the city’s homeless and vulnerable population.
Seventy different providers offered services like haircuts, ID clinics, massage, chiropractic treatment, connections to employment and housing and much more.
Organizer Justin Fisher says they have two goals for today’s event.
“We want to provide as much service as possible, barrier free, and we also want to connect community members to community organizations,” says Fisher.
This is the second event of its kind and Fisher says during last year’s event a simple haircut made all the difference for one young man.
“We always talk about haircuts because it is a simple service, but it makes a huge difference and this young man, who was able to get a haircut for free, thanked the volunteers and said he felt like a new person and the simple act of getting a haircut made him feel like he mattered.”
Fisher says the event isn’t as hard to organize as one would think because he says many service providers in the city are very willing to help out.
“It’s just a really inspiring and community-driven event.”
This is only the second year of the event, but Fisher hopes YXE Connects can become a sustainable event on Saskatoon’s yearly calendar.
Last year’s event served 600 community members and organizers are hoping to serve 1,000 this year.