Homelessness also extends to small and medium-sized towns in Alberta

In Alberta, the challenges of homelessness are not just limited to large cities: shelters are also looking to expand into other smaller demographic cities, including those located in the Edmonton neighborhood.

As communities around the province’s largest cities continue to grow, so do the number of people experiencing homelessness.

Localities like Leduc, Spruce Grove, Camrose or Wetaskiwin are among the few communities that, for the first time in recent years, are facing homelessness on a structural level.

The only homeless shelter in Leduc, about 35 kilometers south of Edmonton, will close its doors at the end of this month as it faces both the imminent expiration of its rental lease and the threat the expiration of a development permit for an expansion, and the uncertainty of obtaining a new location.

The Association Leduc Hubwhich provides meals and shelter to the City’s homeless people, has been unable to find a new location.

Yet in February, city council voted 6-1 in favor of a motion to affirm its commitment to providing uninterrupted emergency shelter spaces.

The organization’s website says its center is open for overnight accommodation, but will be closed on 1^er may.

The Association Leduc Hub is one of a few organizations responding to the growing needs of people experiencing homelessness in central Alberta.

Hope Mission Wetaskiwin has just officially launched construction of its permanent emergency shelter. Present in the community since October 2022, it provides its services from a temporary facility in the city.

Kelly Rowchaplain and community engagement coordinator at Hope Missionexplains that this temporary shelter serves both Wetaskiwin and Maskwacis and that it receives more than 50 homeless people per night, which makes it bursting at the seams.

According to him, the shelter is a springboard to also meet needs related to addiction.

The new refuge of Hope Mission will probably be operational in about two years, according to Mr. Row.

Need for specialized services

The Open Doorswhich offers programs to residents of Wetaskiwin and Camrosehas the particularity of offering support to young people and the general population.

The organization also offered accommodation space from 2020 to 2021 before the Mustard Seed And Hope Mission do not take over this responsibility.

The Open Doors provides intervention and assistance programs for people in the criminal justice system.

According to Kaitlyn Knoxthis aspect is vital when it comes to helping young people aged 15 to 30 who are homeless and struggling with addiction and mental health issues.

She emphasizes that rural services are underfunded and, as a result, underserved areas.

According to Rachel Webstera speaker at The Open Doors, restorative justice is essential to ensure that young people can successfully move away from crime. These services may include court assistance and community service hours.

In 2023, The Open Doors helped 288 young people who used its services.

Young people also came from smaller centers, such as Viking, Tofield and New Norway.

I see that many of our young people are using substances to cope with the fact that they are not housed. Once we are able to house these young people and provide them with the services that suit them, we really see them flourish.

: housing, food, clothing, etc.”,”text”:”The most important thing is that their needs are met, even if it is just their basic needs: housing, food, clothing, etc.”}}”>The most important thing is that their needs are met, even if it is just their basic needs: housing, food, clothing, etc.she emphasizes.

The organization has helped more than 650 young people and adults to Camrose and Wetaskiwin.

Government assistance

When asked about the support provided by the province to these community organizations, the Ministry of Seniors, Communities and Social Services indicated that the following communities had received funding over the past year for emergency winter spaces :

• Cold Lake : 20 places;
• Drayton Valley : 24 places;
• Lac La Biche: 20 places;
• Leduc: 10 places;
• Spruce Grove : 30 places.

The province also funds LloydminsterWetaskiwin and Slave Lake so that they have emergency accommodation capacity throughout the year.

New challenges for communities

The city of Spruce Grove helps people move out of homelessness, which is a relatively new challenge for the community.

This is the first time in recent years that we have had to address the issue of homelessness and homeless support on such a scale.

Homelessness is a community-wide issue that requires us all to work together to solve itadds the City.

According to Kaitlyn Knox, people experiencing homelessness in rural and suburban communities are more likely to get lost in the crowd when it comes to knowing, for example, who needs help. It is therefore necessary a continuum [de services] in these communitiesshe suggests.

With information from Mrinali Anchan