Increase in people experiencing homelessness in Edmonton: ‘No one should die alone in a cold dark ravine’
Global News
The city has seen a 22 per cent increase of homeless encampments in Edmonton, with number of people experiencing homelessness doubling since the start of the pandemic.
Bill McGowan has lived near the Kinnaird Ravine for forty years. He enjoys walking through paths and taking in the scenery.
A couple of days ago, he was startled to find a woman hunched over a fallen tree.
He went to see if she was okay, but soon realized she had passed away. Police arrived and believe her death isn’t suspicious.
On either side of the path are two homeless encampments.
There are now red ribbons tied around a tree, marking the place where the woman was discovered.
“I can’t say we have become complacent. We have just become so frustrated, nothing seems to get done. There’s more homeless now than there was before,” McGowan said.
He loves the neighbourhood and wants people who are struggling to get help. McGowan often calls 311 and last year started keeping a record.
“I went through my log last year, and I had 70 encampments I reported to 311 and that included to Dawson Park. This year I just reported 102 and 76 of those are in Kinnaird Ravine alone.”