Getting vulnerable people housed a community effort, says P.E.I. housing minister

P.E.I.’s housing minister, Rob Lantz, says he was inspired by his recent visit to Calgary to rethink approaches to addressing homelessness on the island. In Calgary, Lantz observed a collaborative model among service providers, which he believes P.E.I. should adopt. This approach involves regular meetings, information sharing, and client referrals between agencies, acknowledging that no single organization can address all the needs of vulnerable populations alone.

Currently, the provincial government has applied to extend the permit for Charlottetown’s emergency shelter and outreach center on Park Street beyond spring 2024. Lantz envisions distributing such services more evenly across the city in the long term, as the move to Park Street has reportedly reduced community issues.

Lantz’s trip included visits to notable Calgary agencies like the Calgary Drop-in Centre, which operates Canada’s largest emergency shelter with over 1,000 beds. The center emphasizes building relationships and compassion to address complex individual needs and collaborates with private landlords to secure permanent housing for clients.

Returning to P.E.I., Lantz has hired Calgary expert Carlene Donnelly to help develop a similar system of care for vulnerable populations. He stresses the importance of community-wide involvement in tackling homelessness, which encompasses multiple crises, including addiction, mental health, housing affordability, and substance abuse. In addition, the new emergency shelter in Summerside is expected to open in October.