Crossroads
General Overview
Since its founding in 1865, The Salvation Army has focused on helping those most in need. The Salvation Army in Saskatoon has done that since the late 1800s. The Crossroads building, which opened in 1952, has served many purposes, including a thrift store, a family services center and an addiction treatment program. Today, it houses a Men’s Emergency Shelter program and Food Services. To support the vibrant community that surrounds it, Crossroads offers the Emergency After-Hours Program and a Community Feeding Program.
In 2019, we began an extensive renovation of Crossroads. The goals were to have a facility that is:
more accessible and offers more services,
more welcoming,
more conducive physical work environment.
We have done that and more.
Accessibility and Services
The building renovations have allowed us to add both practical and service accessibility. The practical has allowed us to have five wheelchair-accessible private rooms on the main floor, along with accessible bathroom and laundry areas. This allows us to house individuals with mobility issues. Until now, we were unable to do that with dignity for the individual.
These wheelchair-accessible private rooms are in addition to the shelter beds located on the second floor in private and semi-private rooms and the private and semi-private rooms in the north wing. The second level also has three laundry rooms, four common bathrooms with showers and a lounge space.
We have also increased the services that we can offer through various building projects in this renovation. A new learning space has been built. In it, we have been able to offer various programs to the guests and members of the community. A new spiritual space has been added for those in need of spiritual renewal. This space is open to all faiths, cultures, and spiritual expressions.
Our spacious dining room is the heart of our building. Our Caseworkers and other supports, such as a Mobile Income Assistance Worker, have their offices facing the dining room so guests can access their services at any time. This provides rapid access for guests to support services. Our dining room area also includes access to washrooms, phones, a safe cell phone charging locker station, and a water bottle filling station.
Guests can also rest in our lounge, watch TV, grab a book, and play some board games. Since Crossroads is open 24/7, guests can stay in the building as long as they want during the day. Our approach is trauma-informed and compassionate-led. We attempt to motivate guests to access the resources that are available to them at Crossroads, including the Housing Caseworkers who offer support with housing and wrap-around services, nurse practitioners on-site through the support of SHA, the Mobile Planning and Support Specialist through the support of the Ministry of Social Services, and the Clinical Counsellor.
Welcoming Building
Crossroads was designed to be welcoming, less institutional, and more home-like. This is visible in its interior design and exterior. The wheelchair-accessible entry includes a 270-degree-view main reception desk, a lobby area with bench seating, and a water bottle filling station. It also allows access to a community office space, community nurse practitioner room, Fireside Room, dining room, and administration hallway.
On the 19th Street side of the building, a beautiful mural designed and painted by SCYAP has been added. It features the founders of The Salvation Army, William and Catherine Booth, serving food, helping hands, the cross, and the Christmas Bells seen at many Christmas Kettles.
Physical Work Environment
The front desk area includes an updated camera system, a kitchenette area and a 270-degree glassed-in reception vestibule. It also has beautiful millwork that adds significant storage space.
The kitchen has almost tripled in size in the last renovation. It now boasts a beautiful working space and pantry. It also includes a new walk-in cooler/freezer combination. The serving allows for a quick serving of meals. A new coffee brewing station allows us to brew 50 cups of coffee in 5 minutes. All these features have enhanced the quality of service we provide to the guests and the community through our feeding programs.
If you would like to come for a tour or organize a visit to learn more about our work at Crossroads and other community and housing programs, don't hesitate to send us a message through the contact form.
Please click the link below to view and download our Grand Re-Opening pamphlet, introducing our project goals and pictures of our building's latest renovations.
Click here
