Homelessness in GP; what’s being done? What could be done?

Schmidt says the key, is all about housing.

“Individuals, whether or not they are living in poverty and are experiencing housing loss, due to not being able to pay the rent. They need support. All the way over to the continuum of individuals experiencing homeless due to addictions.”

One program she said is very helpful is the city’s housing loss prevention program. It’s a direct referral to Centerpoint Facilitation.

“What they can do is help families that are falling into homelessness with supports, with budgeting, there can be financial support to look at past utility arrears or rental arrears.”

Grande Prairie has often been highlighted as a city where people come to try and find employment.

_{“We’re definitely seeing more people coming to our city in regard to jobs. Some people come from across Canada, arrive with maybe a couple months worth of money, if that, to hold them over until they get their job and sometimes that doesn’t happen.”}

Schmidt says the cost of living has been going up and there are several individuals who are at the point of being one pay cheque away from being homeless.

Getting into addiction is another main reason for homelessness in the city.

According to Schmidt, the city has seen a drastic increase in a population group that needs supports around addictions. She says they have been watching trends and they’re alarming.

_{“This past winter has been the highest number of individuals using the Rotary House Shelter intox mats.”}

These mats are for those who are under the influence of substances.

Schmidt says to end homelessness they need to look at more housing options, and they’re starting to do everything they can to get creative. One way they have done this is with the two-year pilot program at the Parkside Inn. What was once a motel, the Parkside is now a permanent supported housing project. There are currently 37 individuals that were chronically homeless and now have a place to live and call home.

There have also been some concerns in the city around safety. Schmidt explains that the city is developing a “who to call list” that will be distributed.

“Anything from drug paraphernalia that’s on the ground that they don’t know how to get it cleaned up, there’s going to be a resource number for them to call. If they see something that they feel is a bylaw infringement, like trespassing, there’s going to be contact numbers for that.”

She also encourages people to go online and read the city’s information on the opioid crisis. There is also a video series that is very informational.

“I’m a Facebook user myself, I see media responses, and I see the community’s concern and that can be a really good thing. It’s showing that our community is passionate about issues like homelessness and about what’s happening with the drug crisis and what’s happening with our non-profits,” she said.

“I just want to encourage people to recognize that their voices are important, that if they have questions or concerns around homelessness, they certainly can call community social development to get some of the answers.”

She says it takes a community to end homelessness and this community has been rallying behind and supporting the Rotary House and St. Lawrence Centre.

“Everyone from our street outreach team that has been working with those who are street homeless, to the housing teams that are seeing how many people out there have done assessments and are ready to move into housing, and then the Rotary House itself has been doing a lot of work with individuals staying there,” she said. This could even mean finding them supports to get back to their home province.

“Not only is the Homeless Initiative supporting this, but Alberta Works with income supports is helping, Alberta Health Services is helping and individuals themselves are getting creative and looking to see what resources they have themselves.

For those who are experiencing homelessness, the city has a Street Survival Guide on the their website.

by Sheena Roszell

Homelessness in GP; what’s being done? What could be done?

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