By Jeff Labine

P.A. homeless strategy keeps clear focus

Jan 26, 2017 | 4:00 PM

Following in the footsteps of cities like Medicine Hat, Prince Albert’s homeless strategy is focusing on putting people in homes first.

Since 2014, the federal government has provided funding for the city to improve its homeless situation. Starting last year, the emphasis was placed on getting roofs over people’s heads. The difference between the cities is rather than build new housing, P.A. wants to repurpose or renovate existing structures.

Brian Howell, manager of the River Bank Development Corporation, said Prince Albert is one of the few smaller communities adopting an aggressive housing first strategy.

“Homelessness is a big problem for our community,” he said. “It results in crime, results in heavy demands on the health system with the emergency rooms being packed up. It’s a real consumer of police services.”

Funding over the next two years will be increased to roughly $180,000. Howell believed the strategy, so far, was working. He pointed to the success of the YWCA’s Homeward Bound program, which is helping roughly 80 people.

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“We can’t build our way out of this. You are better off spending your money on supports, and using existing housing, and keeping them there,” he said.

During a federally-funded homeless survey last March, more than 100 people were identified as living without a home. Howell said the city definitely has a homeless problem, but has made real strides to directly work with people.

While Howell commends the city’s efforts, he’d like it to commit themselves one step further.

“In Medicine Hat, for example, they have taken an oath that there will be no homelessness,” he added. “In other cities like Calgary there’s plans to end homelessness. They are really focusing their resources.”

Jeff Labine is paNOW’s health and education reporter. He can be reached at Jeff.Labine@jpbg.ca or tweet him @labinereporter.