November 23, 2022
City Council will consider a proposal for Jasper Place Wellness Centre, in partnership with Tallcree Nation, to operate an emergency shelter this winter, adding to the City’s supports for Edmontonians experiencing homelessness.
Today the City’s Executive Committee recommended that Council approve $7.5 million in funding for Jasper Place Wellness Centre and Tallcree Nation to operate 209 emergency shelter spaces at a former hotel at 15540 Stony Plain Road. The proposal includes 150 congregate living spaces and 59 private rooms.
If approved, the number of shelter spaces in Edmonton this winter would total 1,281 once all spaces are operational.
While the Government of Alberta recently supplemented its 622 permanent shelter spaces with funding for an additional 450 temporary spaces for the upcoming winter, permanent emergency shelters continue to face capacity pressures.
Homeward Trust’s By Name List indicates that more than 2,650 Edmontonians are experiencing homelessness. About 1,250 of those individuals are primarily sleeping in emergency shelters or outdoors each night.
If approved by Council on November 30, the new emergency shelter would open in approximately four weeks and operate for six months. Services would include 24/7 staffing and security, drug poisoning response, health services and case management support.
