By Justine Kelsie

Update on Five Year Plan to End Homelessness to be presented

Jul 6, 2018 | 6:09 AM

The Year Three Report Card for Grande Prairie’s Five Year Plan to End Homelessness is set to be presented today during an event.

City Homeless Initiatives Supervisor Katherine Schmidt says the report was released on Tuesday, July 4 and some highlights from the report will be shared with the public.

According to a media release from the City of Grande Prairie, through the Housing First program over 2017 to 2018, 94 people were housed. Through the same program, 61 people graduated. After six months in the program for participants, there was a 56 per cent reduction in the use of emergency medical services, 63 per cent reduction in emergency room visits, and 71 per cent reductions with police interactions.
 
“Every year, it is a process of evaluating where we are at and where we need to go. There are a couple of exciting things we are seeing success in,” said Schmidt.
 
“There is a Youth Transition House in Grande Prairie that is showing huge success. There are four youth in that house.”
 
Throughout the last year, there has been seven young people mentored and supported through that program.
 
A public presentation is set to be made Friday, July 6 at Teresa Sargent Hall. Schmidt says members of the Voice for the Voiceless committee, people who have experienced homelessness, will be doing presentations.
 
There will be a free barbeque lunch to follow the speeches.