P.A. homeless strategy keeps clear focus
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.”