Council seeks ‘clear strategy’ for assisting the chronically homeless

Edmonton’s city council promised a new plan to help those “living like refugees on our streets” Tuesday, after hearing the city fell short on targets to house the chronically homeless.

People struggling with chronic alcohol and substance abuse, who have been living on the street for years or decades, often need a different type of home to be successful, say city staff. They need permanent supportive housing, often with round-the-clock staff like an extended care facility.

“These people are really ill, really wounded . ... We have this last, lost population that we must deal with,” said Coun. Scott McKeen, before council voted unanimously to get a report outlining a business case and proposed strategy at an upcoming committee meeting. That would form the base to start negotiating with federal and provincial governments.

“My hope is that we receive a clear strategy on how to move ahead ... not only for the sake of those people who are living like refugees on our streets, but also for the sake of the broader community and the money that can be saved,” said McKeen, pointing to Ambrose Place, a new facility that saw emergency room visits drop by more than half for its residents during its first year of operation.

The city’s 10-year plan to end homelessness called for 1,000 new homes with intensive support to keep chronically homeless men and women housed.

Instead, only 213 units were built since 2009. The result can been seen on the street. Seventy per cent of the 1,752 people counted as homeless last year were chronically homeless.

A city report on the issue estimates housing this group will cost $21 million a year for 10 years.

Mayor Don Iveson said the city made “significant progress” housing 6,000 people through the Housing First strategy.

But those were people who had not been homeless for as long.

The program helped them find an apartment and provided basic support to help them pay bills on time.

But the “hard-to-house” population needs more attention, he said, and the provincial government appears willing to collaborate.

City officials said helping potential neighbours understand the need for this housing will be part of the strategy.

They’re also committed to ensuring the facilities are distributed across the city rather than being concentrated in the central core.