Leduc, a city near Edmonton, is enhancing its support for the homeless as winter approaches, following a series of decisions aimed at better addressing the needs of its vulnerable population. In a recent announcement, Leduc revealed plans to invest $1.3 million over three years to bolster homelessness services. This includes hiring additional staff: a second life safety and navigation coordinator and a second community safety officer, while making the current community safety officer position permanent.
The city is also initiating a pilot program to assist with housing start-up costs and support those who can’t access traditional financial aid. Other planned improvements include coordinating regional advocacy efforts and formalizing extreme weather activation procedures to ensure a robust response during harsh conditions.
These changes follow Leduc City Council’s decision to reverse a plan for a winter emergency shelter, originally estimated to cost $308,000 for approximately 15 nights of operation. The council’s reversal came amid debates about cost and the need for more comprehensive solutions. The city’s only year-round shelter closed in May after its lease was not renewed.
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