Budget highlights include:
Funding Treatment and Care Programs
- The budget provides a $34-million increase for targeted mental health and addictions initiatives, which include plans to achieve 500 new addictions spaces, wraparound supports for homelessness and 30 new complex needs emergency shelter spaces.
- $29.2 million in increases for targeted initiatives to address addictions and vulnerable populations, including:
- $7.7-million increase for complex needs emergency shelters for individuals receiving withdrawal management and health care support, and connect them to follow-up services such as inpatient addictions treatment, housing and income assistance supports;
- $7.4 million to annualize 2023-24 commitments, including counselling through Family Services Saskatchewan, addictions spaces added in 2023-24 and police and crisis teams;
- $6.2 million to add a further 150 new addictions treatment spaces;
- $5.7 million for wraparound supports in supportive housing as part of the Provincial Approach to Homelessness Plan (PATH);
- $1 million toward the development of a central intake and navigation system for addictions services;
- $1 million toward the development of a provincial opioid agonist therapy program; and
- $200,000 for transitional housing supports for pre and post addictions treatment through Oxford House.
- $4.7 million is targeted to mental health initiatives with a strong focus on children and youth, including:
- $1 million to expand the Mental Health Capacity Building Program in schools;
- $150,000 for Prenatal Outreach and Response Teams through Sanctum Care Group;
- $120,000 for Saskatchewan youth homes; and
- The remaining $3.4 million in targeted increases will fund commitments such as psychiatry support services in Saskatoon and Prince Albert, and BridgePoint Centre for Eating Disorders virtual programming.