By Jeff Labine

Goal set to eradicate homelessness by 2025

Jun 26, 2017 | 9:36 PM

Although a plan has yet to be made, Prince Albert is officially looking to eradicate homelessness by 2025.

Ward 3 Coun. Evert Botha put forward a motion at Monday night’s council meeting asking for the city to follow in the footsteps of other municipalities like Lethbridge and Medicine Hat to tackle the issue of homelessness. Botha wanted council to invite representatives from those communities to P.A. to form a task group so together a strategy could be developed.

The goal would be to eradicate homelessness in eight years.

There was a lot of criticism around the wording of the motion such as using the word “eradicate” and putting the hard deadline of 2025.

“If we are not going to set a goal for ourselves in this, chances are we are going to have to continue to deal with homelessness,” Botha told council. “We need to have a date that is realistic.”

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He stressed he’s not discounting any of the local work being done, but he said the problem with homelessness will continue as more people come from other communities to Prince Albert.

Despite some members calling the motion nothing but “fluff” and “shallow,” the idea received enough support to move forward.

Ward 8 Coun. Ted Zurakowski said the motion was superficial.

“It does nothing to recognize the work that’s already going on in our community by the groups who work daily to deal with the homelessness and the social issues in our community,” he said. “By 2025, why not 2024? Why not 2026? I find the original motion quite shallow because frankly, it is absent of the hard work that needs to be done and has no recognition of the hard work that is going on right now.”

He said the motion doesn’t carry much weight without the support of those in the community who regularly deal with the issue. He ended on a positive note by saying he’s excited to see the community services advisory committee can do with the issue.

Ward 6 Coun. Blake Edwards said substance abuse and homelessness is a big issue in Prince Albert and was pleased discussions were going to take place at the city level to try and solve the problem.

“It’s a big issue and other communities are doing better things than Prince Albert, unfortunately, from what I see,” he said. “I think Prince Albert is doing good work in certain areas. I will definitely support this.”

Ward 7 Coun. Dennis Nowoselsky pointed out the communities mentioned haven’t eradicated homelessness but simply reduced it.

Jeff.labine@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @labinereporter