OTTAWA - An Alberta city has become the first in the country to have ended chronic homelessness, just as municipal leaders push the federal government to help do the same countrywide.
Group says Medicine Hat has ended chronic homelessness, as cities eye same nationwide
by The Canadian Press
Last Updated Jun 2, 2021 at 11:28 am EDT
OTTAWA An Alberta city has become the first in the country to have ended chronic homelessness, just as municipal leaders push the federal government to help do the same countrywide.
Medicine Hat first said in 2015 that it had ended homelessness in its city, but that was based on its own standards because none existed nationally at the time.
That has changed, and today the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness says Medicine Hat is now at what’s called “functional zero,” meaning there are no more than three people experiencing homelessness in a community for three straight months.
Community housing manager not happy with treatment of homeless people
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Yes
There is no shortage of leaders in Medicine Hat pointing to social issues in the city which rival those of the pandemic crisis. But in an open letter posted Friday, the director of an organization tasked with dealing with homelessness expressed frustration with a lack of support.
Providing support to Hatters “can’t just be based on someone’s economic status or housing status,” Jamie Rogers, manager of the Medicine Hat Community Housing Society, said Monday.
The emergency shelter received provincial funding as part of its COVID-19 response to allow for a place for those who are homeless or living rough a safe place during the day.
Guest Column: Why is the thought of homeless people walking down the street and finding connection such a concern?
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Several times a week
A few times a year
Rarely/never
his was the first time in 10 years that I did not recognize my community. It would be unfair to say it wasn’t always there, but rather, I haven’t encountered it to this degree. Perhaps it was the stressors of the pandemic, the threat of livelihoods or businesses being lost. Perhaps it was the fact people were paying more attention to their community but really, the reason why is irrelevant.
The municipal planning commission has approved a permit application to allow a daytime homeless shelter to operate in a storefront on N. Railway Street, which was formerly the Mustard Seed and Champions Centre. The permit is good until the end of September. NEWS PHOTO COLLIN GALLANT
A daytime homeless shelter will be allowed to set up on N. Railway Street storefront after Medicine Hat’s municipal planning commission was presented Wednesday with a plan to mitigate concerns brought up by neighbouring business
That includes a staffing plan, a security guard for at least the first month of operation, an outline of capacity limits and a communications plan with neighbours and police, who say they’ll put a focus on the area.