The City of Edmonton is preparing to release a new plan to address homelessness following troubling new data on the number of deaths among those with no fixed address. The Community and Public Services committee received a report revealing an increase in deaths of people experiencing homelessness, from 30 individuals in 2017 to 302 in 2023. While data collection has improved, councillors expressed concern over the alarming numbers and the lack of public awareness and outcry compared to other types of fatalities. Ward Nakota Isga Councillor Andrew Knack emphasized the need for action and the urgency of the situation, calling for a stronger response from the city.
Ward Dene Councillor Aaron Paquette delivered an emotional speech to the committee, expressing frustration at the level of suffering and calling for immediate action to address the crisis. The city’s 10-year plan to reduce homelessness, implemented in 2006, initially saw success in reducing the number of people on the streets by half. However, progress was reversed in 2017, and the pandemic further exacerbated the situation, doubling the number of individuals experiencing homelessness in Edmonton. With an estimated 3,200 people currently homeless in the city, Homeward Trust is working on a new plan that includes the need for up to 1,700 supportive housing units, 250 transitional units, and 600 caseload spaces over the next five years.
Councillors are urging the province to fulfill the housing needs outlined in the new plan, questioning the lack of a detailed provincial strategy for building and operating the necessary units. While the city has allocated $183 million in the current four-year budget cycle for housing units, advocates like Nadine Chalifoux are emphasizing the importance of consultation with the public and individuals with lived experience of homelessness. Chalifoux emphasized the need for a greater focus on transitional housing in Edmonton and called for a more collaborative and inclusive approach to addressing the issue.
The release of the full homelessness plan is scheduled for June, and it is expected to outline a comprehensive strategy to address the crisis in Edmonton. The plan will likely include a range of initiatives aimed at reducing homelessness and providing support services to those in need. As the city grapples with the challenges of addressing homelessness, there is a growing recognition of the need for a coordinated and collaborative approach involving government, community organizations, and individuals with lived experience of homelessness. By working together and engaging in meaningful dialogue, Edmonton hopes to make progress in ending homelessness and addressing the underlying issues contributing to the crisis.
