Fifteen years after the original strategy, Edmonton has a new plan for homelessness

The City of Edmonton is updating its plan to end homelessness, 15 years after it launched the original 10-year plan in 2009. 

The original strategy helped reduce homelessness by nearly half, a city report shows. The plan was updated in 2017 and since then, the city and agencies helped develop 644 units of supportive housing and housed more than 8,500 people. 

The 2024 strategy will have no timeline. 

Susan McGee, CEO of Homeward Trust, presented the plan to council's community and public services committee on Tuesday. 

"I think the value of putting a time on 10-year plans initially was not a naive gesture that we would be resolving all issues in that time, but holding ourselves to a strategy and it still has value to do that."

They will explore timelines in specific targets when the plan is complete, McGee told the committee.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, more people have become homeless and chronic needs have become more complex, driving the need to clarify roles within agencies and organizations, the report says.  

The goal is to reach what Homeward Trust calls "Functional Zero,"' making homelessness rare, brief and non-recurring.

In 2016, Homeward Trust, which coordinates funding and housing programs in Edmonton, counted 1,752 homeless people; as of April this year, 3,262 people identified as homeless. 

"What is really, really significantly changed from 15 years ago is the agency of individuals and their expectation that the system work better and more effectively for them," McGee said. 

Homeward Trust has worked on the update since last spring, in conjunction with the city, Indigenous firm, pipikwan pêhtâkwan and a strategic planning firm, Y-Station Ltd.

The research between July and September 2023 included consulting 154 people who are  homeless or with experience of being homeless.

The agencies spoke to people at shelters and drop-in centres at Hope Mission, Boyle Street Community Services, the George Spady Society, the Elizabeth Fry Society, at supportive housing complexes and at encampments. 

Overall, people said there is a need for more appropriate supports and a better supply of affordable housing.