A survey of Saskatchewan landlords released in late 2019 showed that 93 percent of the 118 respondents were of the opinion that changes to Saskatchewan's social assistance model will lead to increased rates of tenants defaulting on their rent.

The online survey, conducted by the Saskatchewan Landlord Association and the Saskatoon Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP), garnered respondents from 31 communities of varying sizes and took place over a two week period.

At issue in the government's new Saskatchewan Income Support (SIS) program is the change of policy regarding rental payments to landlords. Under the now grandfathered Saskatchewan Assistance Program (SAP) clients had the option to have certain assistance payments made directly to their landlord and utility providers, thereby ensuring prompt payment. Under the new program, that option is gone. All assistance payments would go to the clients, who would then be responsible for their own affairs.

It's a decision that the government billed as modernization of social assistance; intending to give some independence to people who find themselves in need of income support.

Everett Hindley, the MLA for Swift Current says that while he hasn't had a chance to speak to the social services minister, the question had been raised earlier in the fall legislature and he stressed the intent of the new program, stating:

"I would go back to the reason that we made some of these changes to the social assistance program is to provide those...the clients that are on social assistance, not just autonomy, but with some direct responsibility for their own daily affairs, and that includes...like the rest of us, that includes paying bills and paying rent and buying groceries and budgeting and all that sort of stuff and they'll do that with the assistance of their social worker still."

The vast majority of respondents to the poll disagreed, saying that while they had no issue with the intent of the program, the reality could be very different, as addictions and mental health can play a large role in where that money goes after being received by the client.

Terry Highet, the owner of Pyramid Property Management and Real Estate, says that she did not take part in the survey but that she was aware of it and that she preferred to take a wait and see approach. She is not convinced that the changes will be as disastrous as others landlords fear, stating that at the end of the day, the move away from direct deposit will make tenants that are on income support no different than any other tenant in terms of having to take responsibility for their bills or face the repercussions. In the end, she says that people deserve to be given the benefit of the doubt.

The SIS program was introduced in the summer of 2019 and will gradually replace the two existing programs by 2021.