At least 265 people evicted from Edmonton homeless camps visit navigation centre

At least 265 people evicted from encampments have visited the province's new navigation centre since it was set up nearly a month ago in downtown Edmonton, administration told city council at a meeting Monday.

The numbers are from the provincial government, which launched the triage centre to help people who lived in homeless camps that were removed by the city. 

"There is a lot to be encouraged by," said Anne Stevenson, councillor for Ward O-day'min.

The navigation centre is an important piece of the puzzle that's been missing in the mission to connect people with services, Stevenson said. 

"It's a great model and I hope it can continue to be refined and improved even further, but it's a great starting point." 

Since the centre was launched on Jan. 17, 131 Individuals were connected to shelters, City Manager Andre Corbould said.

"It appears word is spreading on the on-site supports and the instances of walk-ups from unsheltered persons are increasing," he said. 

Crews cleaned 191 sites, Corbould said. 

Hope Mission is the main agency supporting the centre, he said, but the Mustard Seed, Enoch, the Salvation Army, Radius Health and Treaty 6 Confederacy are also helping connect people with services. 

"Organizations are working together to provide the right support needed for each individual and the coordination effort is really helping," Corbould said.

Corbould said from the centre, some clients were taken to the shelter of their choice, detox centres and to friends or families.

Of the total, 71 were referred to housing, the province said.

Corbould noted that the city does not have data that says how many people who were referred to housing were actually provided with housing. 

Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said at the meeting Monday about half the people evicted from encampments have used the navigation centre, though he wondered "where are the rest going?"