(Image Credit: Ben Tompkins/northeastNOW)

By Cam Lee

Calls to RCMP increase

Police address concerns about unhoused individuals in Melfort public buildings

Mar 12, 2026 | 3:28 PM

The unhoused population seeking shelter in public buildings in Melfort has prompted responses from the RCMP over recent months. 

Staff Sgt. Ryan Case told northeastNOW the issue has mainly come up during the winter. 

“Our detachment has received many calls over the past few months about some homeless people sleeping or just staying in businesses or other buildings that are open to the public,” Case said. 

Some of the concerns expressed to RCMP have been about individuals actively using drugs.

“This is not a common occurrence, and the vast majority of the calls we have received are because these people are simply unwanted and unwelcome in these places/spaces.” 

Man arrested

Carrot River RCMP nab suspect in confinement, shooting incident in Shoal Lake

1h ago

Calls to RCMP increase

Police address concerns about unhoused individuals in Melfort public buildings

1h ago

Water levels

Normal spring runoff predicted despite recent snowfall

4h ago

Some of the places in question include open lobbies of closed businesses like financial institutions and the Northern Lights Palace lobby, among others. Case said when they receive a call expressing concerns, they will attend to that location and speak to the people involved. 

“We usually ask them to move along because others are calling on them because they don’t want them to be where they are,” Case said. “They almost always leave voluntarily without being forced to leave.” 

Since those locations are open to the public, police authority in some of the situations is limited. Case explained there may be instances when police cannot remove some of the unhoused people if they are not committing any type of crime or other enforceable piece of legislation. 

“If they are simply ‘unwelcome’, it is not a crime and the police may not be able to do much in these situations,” Case explained. “The police have offered the handful of homeless people in Melfort some resources that are available to them to assist with their homelessness situation.”

However, Case said the people need to be willing to accept that help. 

RCMP are almost always the first point of contact in these cases, and Case admits that may not always be the most appropriate.  

“This community is no different than many others where the police are asked to deal with some situations that do not fall within a policing mandate.” 

Case said many of the situations could be prevented or dealt with by security personnel, but adds that obviously becomes incumbent on the business or other public access buildings to have the security in place.  

Both the Northern Lights Palace and Melfort Public Library have surveillance cameras in place. 

– 

cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com