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Province to fund hundreds of homeless-shelter spaces
The Edmonton Journal
Published: Tuesday, November 07, 2006
EDMONTON - The Alberta government has agreed to fund 400 extra emergency shelter spaces in Edmonton as the city braces for a sharp rise in homeless numbers this winter.

The $809,000 provincial grant, announced Monday, will be distributed by the Edmonton Housing Trust Fund to local social agencies such as the Salvation Army and Hope Mission.

Jason Chance, spokesman for the Seniors and Community Supports department, said if the need becomes even greater this winter, the province will look at extra funding.


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Font: ****"Last year in Edmonton, the shelters were not full," he said.

"Two years ago, you had to open the LRT stations.

"So you need flexibility depending on the situation."

Rob Martin, executive director of the housing trust fund, called the funding announcement great news.

Edmonton agencies had asked the province for $2.4 million, he said, but that was based on a worst-case scenario that another 340 places to sleep, on top of the 400, would be needed.

"The agreement is that if we get to a beyond-all-expectations situation, we'll go back to the province for money," Martin said.

The province turned down a request for $60,000 to fund two staff positions to help Edmonton's homeless -- an outreach nurse at the Boyle McCauley Health Centre and a person at the Mennonite Centre for Newcomers.

A count of Edmonton's homeless population is expected to be released Wednesday.




© The Edmonton Journal 2006