Message from the Minister

For each of us, the passage of time is marked by different events. As Minister of Alberta Housing and Urban Affairs, I have witnessed the march of time through the work of our Ministry, the achievements of our stakeholders, and the triumphs of the citizens we serve.

On a personal front, it is a privilege to serve in the housing portfolio, and to record my first anniversary as Minister in January 2011. This issue includes a progress update on the steps forward we have made together in developing affordable housing and ending homelessness.

This progress offers much to celebrate. Working in partnership with community-based organizations, non-profit groups, and the private sector, these events across Alberta remind us of how far we have come in bringing new affordable housing on stream.

Also in this issue is an update on the Parsons Creek project in Fort McMurray, which shows the work underway to address growth pressures. I also hope you read about the new identification cards for the homeless that have the potential to help people get back on their feet.

Like us, the individuals and families who benefit from Alberta’s programs and outreach services have their own ways of measuring time. They are now able to look back on the ground they have covered since overcoming some of their biggest challenges, and we are honoured to share their stories.

This newsletter is just one snapshot in time. However, it is an important picture of how we can change public perceptions of low-income Albertans, and more importantly, help change lives one day at a time.

 

Government ID card helping homeless people get back on their feet

When Mike, a formerly homeless person, got a government-issued identification (ID) card, he felt like he was being welcomed back into the world.

“Honestly it makes me feel like I’m somebody again. With that ID it makes me feel like I am part of society. I’m now part of Alberta too,” he said. “Before I felt like I was just another statistic.”

Mike, who recently found a home with the help of Housing First, says the readily recognizable ID card makes it easier for him to deal with banks and employers and it is helping him with his application to get his SIN number.

“It makes the process so much simpler”, said Mike.

Mike was one of many clients who obtained the government-issued ID with the help of the Boyle Street Community Centre in Edmonton.

“There are no words to describe how this feels [having an ID card] except I feel grateful,” he said.

This fall, Housing and Urban Affairs (HUA) and Service Alberta set up a process to remove the two biggest barriers that homeless people face when trying to obtain personal identification – verifying identity and having an address.

A key change is that staff at shelters and Housing First agencies funded by the Alberta government can now help provide a homeless person’s proof of legal Alberta residency. These staff obtain documentation to certify an individual’s identity, and assist individuals to obtain the government-issued ID card through an Alberta registry office.  

Since October, HUA has trained staff in government-funded shelters in all seven major cities, as well as Housing First agencies, on how to help homeless people obtain government ID.  

Agencies who are offering the service are quick to see how having a government-issued ID card empowers individuals.

Dianne Finch, Acting Executive Director of the Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter, called the initiative “outstanding” in a letter to HUA. “Women and children fleeing from family violence often leave with only their clothes on their back. These families constantly confront barriers due to a lack of proper identification – barriers to housing, health care, and employment.”

She adds that by removing these barriers, women and children will be better positioned to move forward to independent living in their communities.

HUA will continue to train more agencies this year. To date, 71 organizations and homeless-serving agencies have received training in the communities of Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Calgary, Red Deer, Edmonton, Grand Prairie, and the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.

Supporting future growth in Fort McMurray

Parsons Creek is a large parcel of Crown land located at the north end of Fort McMurray. Development is underway there to help address the critical issues related to rapid population growth in the oilsands region.

When complete, the area will be home to 24,000 residents in 8,000 homes. Schools, health facilities, and other public amenities will also be built in the future to support a strong, vibrant community.

With an approved Outline Plan in place for Phase 1, development has continued at a fast pace to ensure lots are available when needed. Demand for residential lots continues to be strong in Fort McMurray, where the current inventory of available lots is around 200, down from the over 1,500 lots that were released when the project started.

Housing and Urban Affairs is developing a sales strategy to offer land parcels to the market in the coming months.  This is a full year ahead of schedule and demonstrates how the Alberta government is addressing changing market conditions. Adequate land supply will help to balance the housing affordability equation in Fort McMurray.

This year will be a productive one for Parsons Creek, with the installation of much of the deep infrastructure (water and sanitation). As well, the demand for commercial land will be addressed through the planning and approval of Phase 2. The first parcels in Phase 2 are expected to be made available for sale by fall of 2011 and ready for occupancy shortly after access to Highway 63 is completed.

Christmas gift for low-income and homeless Calgary seniors

More help is on the way for Calgary seniors who need affordable and permanent housing.

The Bethany Care Society will develop 42 affordable housing units for low-income seniors and 8 housing units for homeless seniors, thanks in part to a $6.5 million capital grant from the Alberta government. The units will be part of a larger apartment complex that is expected to begin construction in 2011.

Bethany Care is a not-for-profit, faith-based organization that offers independent housing, supportive living, continuing care, and other community services for seniors and adults with disabilities in central and southern Alberta.

The provincial funding for the project is part of $188 million made available this year to help create affordable housing options for low- to moderate-income Albertans and homeless people. The other projects to be funded will be announced this year.

The Bethany Care units are part of the province’s goal to create 11,000 affordable housing units by 2012, with support committed for more than 9,000 units to date.

More information on provincially funded affordable housing and housing for the homeless is available at www.housing.alberta.ca.

Raising roofs, raising spirits

Albertans and their government are committed to ending homelessness and ensuring affordable housing options are available to all citizens. On both fronts, success and positive results are evident.

This success is largely due to Housing and Urban Affairs’ partnerships with municipalities, community-based organizations, housing management bodies, the non-profit and private sectors, and the federal government.

Under the Housing Capital Initiatives Program, Housing and Urban Affairs has been leveraging taxpayer dollars with funding from our partners to bring more housing units on stream. To date, more than 900 units of housing for the homeless have been supported and over 1,700 homeless people have been given a permanent home with the supports they need to overcome the root causes of their homelessness.

More recently, the government initiated a process to help homeless people gain government-issued identification to help them access many everyday programs and services. Also, outreach services continue to be expanded to help address the unique challenges many individuals face in turning their life around.

The province’s Housing First approach is proving to be an effective way to break the cycle of homelessness. Rather than simply finding Albertans a place to sleep, we are finding individuals and families a place to live while connecting them to the right supports, and this is helping them take significant steps towards independence.

Building a brighter future for our province, one brick, one service, and one person at a time…it all adds up a stronger Alberta. Learn more about the progress made on affordable housing and ending homeless in these on-line fact sheets.

Rent supports—getting to the heart of the matter

Deciding whether to pay the rent or buy groceries isn’t a choice any of us want to make. Nor do we want to have to tell our children that they cannot sign up for any afterschool activities. Both situations are heart-breaking.

When your income is limited, and taking care of the basic necessities stretches your last dollar, it may seem hopeless – but there is help. The province has programs designed to help low-income individuals and families who are having difficulty breaking the cycle of poverty on their own. For those in dire need of housing, Alberta provides rent support and affordable community housing.

For Lily, a single mother of three, the province’s community housing program made all the difference. With help from this program, her children regained opportunities that others may take for granted.

“All of my kids were naturally athletic; as a mom you want to encourage your kids to develop their abilities,” said Lily. “But after dealing with the rent and bills, putting food on the table, there was nothing left for extras.”

Alberta’s community-based approach delivers housing assistance through community-based management bodies that know the local housing market and community needs best. These organizations play an important role in preventing homelessness among at-risk individuals and families. They direct people like Lily to vital housing options that can set them on a path to greater independence and success.

Once Lily was able to reduce how much of her budget went to rent, she could free up funds for other family activities.  Equally important as the sole bread-winner for her family, Lily had some money left to upgrade her education.

“I went from the school of hard-knocks to a classroom,” she said.

With new skills at her disposal, Lily improved her earning potential and ability to provide for her family.

“It was a major confidence boost, as much as a financial one.”

Today she is a proud homeowner, holds a university diploma, and continues to advance her career and set new goals for herself. Lily says she also learned a lot about giving back and is now an enthusiastic community volunteer.

Lily is just one example of the many Albertans who have benefitted from the rent support programs and social housing available across the province.

In 2010/2011, 40,900 households received assistance to access safe and affordable housing, including seniors and persons with special needs. More than $127 million will help ensure that those most in need have housing, hope, and the ability to make choices that are heart-warming not heart-breaking.

Out of the cold—prepared for winter weather

Each year, as the snowflakes begin to fall, many of us look forward to winter activities such as tobogganing, skiing, or a playful snowball fight. However, for some Albertans, our coldest season is no winter wonderland.

For the homeless, the annual blanket of white offers no warmth. Fortunately, Alberta’s shelters and outreach services offer a respite from the cold, and the province’s 2010/2011 winter emergency response plans are in place to support some of our most vulnerable citizens.

“As in years past, my Ministry will ensure that homeless people have a warm, safe place to sleep, especially when the temperatures drop,” confirmed Jonathan Denis, Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs.

Housing and Urban Affairs works with shelter operators and community agencies across Alberta to monitor demand and ensure that extra shelter spaces are available in the winter. A total of 3,473 year-round shelter spaces in 30 facilities are funded for 2010/2011.

Despite indications that the number of homeless is declining, Alberta’s winter emergency response plans address any increased need for shelter spaces and other programs for homeless Albertans. During the winter months, contingency funding is set aside for emergency spaces above and beyond the regular shelter spaces. This winter, only Calgary, Red Deer, Grande Prairie, and Medicine Hat requested and received funding for additional spaces. In total, the provincial government has set aside more than $1.5 million to support close to 200 additional winter emergency spaces, if required, and help fund related winter services for homeless Albertans.

“My expectation is that there is always a place for someone in need of shelter – that no one is turned away for lack of space,” said Minister Denis. “We couldn’t assess or respond to that need without the help of the many hardworking, caring individuals on the front lines.”

Additional services that are supported to help the homeless during cold weather are also identified at the community level. For example, Homeward Trust Edmonton has received funding to support extended hours at the Boyle Street Community Services Drop-in Centre. Other services include warming centers, transportation to shelters, and delivery of hot drinks and blankets for people who choose to stay outdoors.