Edmonton city council wants to get feedback from social agencies on the removal of encampments and associated risk factors.
An approved motion brought forward by Coun. Anne Stevenson on Thursday proposes city administration outline risk factors relating to shutting down encampments.
“I’m wanting to have a documentation where all Edmontonians have access to the same information, where we all have a clear understanding of the approach we’re taking,” Stevenson said during the council meeting.
She added it was important that there is shelter capacity when encampments are being removed.
“What do we do in circumstances where individuals are unable or unwilling to go to services, and I’m reluctant to use the term refusing services, I don’t think that that’s accurate in terms of the decision points that people have and make,” Stevenson said.
“I think that it is extremely impossible for us at this table or us in this room to be making these decisions in the absence of input from those who are most directly and significantly impacted.”
‘Playing politics with people’s lives’
A point of tension in tackling support for Edmonton’s homeless community members has been the jostling of responsibility between municipal and provincial officials.
Coun. Aaron Paquette said he was in favour of the motion but that solutions were already apparent.
“We’ve said this over and over again, so I will say it one more time, a focus on supportive housing with wraparound services, transitioning people toward affordable, permanent housing, but housing alone isn’t enough,” he said.
“We need a robust, co-ordinated approach to mental health, addictions and poverty mitigation.”
He added, “Instead of acting, the province continues to drag its feet, rather than stepping up and working with us on real solutions, we’re seeing delays, finger pointing and excuses, potentially for political gain, and that isn’t leadership. It’s playing politics with people’s lives.”
According to a city staff report, as of Aug. 20, Homeward Trust’s By Name List shows more than 2,259 people are provisionally housed, 1,026 are sleeping unsheltered and 726 report using shelters.
The province has previously cited successes from the establishment of its navigation and support centre in central Edmonton on Jan. 17.
The Alberta government set up the triage centre where unhoused people could receive help in finding shelter space, housing and health advice, financial guidance, ID cards and income support.
The province launched the Edmonton centre the day after a Court of King’s Bench judge dismissed a lawsuit against the city over encampment removals.
In an email to CBC in August, the Ministry of Seniors, Community and Social Services said since January, more than 2,960 people have accessed and received services at the navigation centre. That includes 1,430 people connected to housing and shelter.