In Edmonton, the number of people experiencing homelessness has surged to 4,697, an increase of nearly 2,000 over the past year, marking the highest count since at least 2019. This figure includes those in shelters, those without any shelter, and those in provisional accommodations. Experts, including Damian Collins from the University of Alberta, describe the situation as a growing crisis. Two methods are used to measure homelessness: the point-in-time (PIT) count, conducted every two years, and the By Name List (BNL), which is updated monthly based on data from service providers. The BNL count is seen as more accurate but still fails to account for individuals not connected to support services.
The report indicates that over half of the respondents identify as Indigenous, and a significant portion of them are youth. Discrepancies have emerged between government officials regarding homelessness statistics, with NDP housing critic Janis Irwin citing Homeward Trust’s figure while the Minister for Seniors, Community and Social Services offered much lower numbers. Advocates emphasize that immediate responses, like emergency shelters, are insufficient without addressing the root causes of homelessness, urging the need for sustainable housing solutions as winter approaches.
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