ENABLING HOUSING CHOICE NORTH PROJECT IN BIG LAKES COUNTY
February 19, 2025
News Release
February 19, 2025
News Release
For Immediate Release- Feb 19, 2025
ALBERTA — On behalf of the Rural Development Network (RDN), the Sustainable Housing Initiative (SHI) has partnered with Big Lakes County to collaboratively explore locally-informed solutions that will enable diverse housing development in their community.
SHI is working to support diverse, sustainable, and equitable housing development in northern Alberta communities through its Enabling Housing Choice North Project. This project was made possible through funding and support from the Alberta Real Estate Foundation (AREF).
The purpose of this project partnership is to perform extensive research on the challenges and opportunities that currently exist within Big Lakes County’s housing landscape. Findings from this research will assist in responding to the diverse housing demands that emerge from Big Lakes County.
“The Enabling Housing Choice North project is a unique opportunity to respond to the housing challenges facing communities in northern Alberta,” says Lisa Belanger, Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Development Network. “We are excited to work with Big Lakes County to research and identify solutions that promote affordable and diverse housing options. This partnership highlights the importance of local input and collaboration in addressing complex housing needs.”
Big Lakes County is proud to be part of the “Enabling Housing Choice North” Project, part of the Rural Development Network’s Sustainable Housing Initiative” says Reeve, Tyler Airth. “Addressing housing needs is crucial to the well-being of our residents, and this project will help ensure that we can provide diverse, affordable, and sustainable housing options for years to come. As part of Council’s Strategic Plan, we are committed to being a place where people want to live and can afford to live, while also fostering sustainable economic growth. Diverse housing is a key component of this vision. Partnering with RDN and the “Enabling Housing Choice North” Project allows us to invest in a more sustainable future for Big Lakes County.
Project Goals:
About RDN: The Rural Development Network (RDN) is a non-profit organization that works with rural, remote and Indigenous communities and organizations in Canada. We collaborate to identify and bring focus to rural issues, build local capacity, and develop innovative, rural-based solutions to social and economic challenges.
About AREF:: Created through the Real Estate Act, the Alberta Real Estate Foundation is a nonprofit grantmaking organization that supports and strengthens Alberta’s real estate industry and benefits Albertans. Through strategic investments, we fund projects across a diverse range of initiatives designed to bolster the work of the industry, government, and our land and built environments.
Media Contacts:
| Lisa Belanger Chief Executive Officer ceo@ruraldevelopment.ca | Joy Vonk Manager of Operations joyv@ruraldevelopment.ca |
For Immediate Release- Feb 11,2025
ALBERTA — On behalf of the Rural Development Network (RDN), the Sustainable Housing Initiative (SHI) has partnered with Lac Cardinal Country to collaboratively explore locally-informed solutions that will enable diverse housing development in their community.
SHI is working to support diverse, sustainable, and equitable housing development in northern Alberta communities through its Enabling Housing Choice North Project. This project was made possible through funding and support from the Alberta Real Estate Foundation (AREF).
“Recognizing the need to support Municipalities in their effort to accommodate a greater diversity of housing types to meet resident needs, we are pleased to partner with the Rural Development Network and Lac Cardinal Country on this important project” says Patti Morris, Executive Director of the Alberta Real Estate Foundation. “The Enabling Housing Choice North Project aims to drive long-term policy change in Alberta’s rural communities to support long-term resiliency. We are honoured to support this critical effort.”
The purpose of this project partnership is to perform extensive research on the challenges and opportunities that currently exist within Lac Cardinal Country’s housing landscape. Findings from this research will assist in responding to the diverse housing demands that emerge from Lac Cardinal Country.
The Enabling Housing Choice North Project is a pivotal initiative to address the unique housing needs of northern Alberta communities,” says Lisa Belanger, Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Development Network. “We are delighted to work alongside Lac Cardinal Country to identify opportunities for increasing housing diversity and sustainability. By combining research with community collaboration, this partnership will pave the way for locally-informed solutions to meet the region’s evolving housing demands”.
“Lac Cardinal Country is excited to partner with the Rural Development Network allowing us to address the diverse and evolving housing needs of our communities, through the Sustainable Housing Initiative on the Enabling Housing Choice North Project, expressed Dave Allen, Chair of Lac Cardinal Economic Development Board. “This collaboration will ensure that our residents, irrespective of their income or background, have access to safe, affordable, and suitable housing options. This partnership will provide a more targeted approach to tackling issues such as housing shortages, affordability gaps, and the demand for housing that meet the needs of different demographics. When people have access to good housing, it encourages community growth, attracts new residents or businesses, and improves overall quality of life.”
Project Goals:
About RDN: The Rural Development Network (RDN) is a non-profit organization that works with rural, remote and Indigenous communities and organizations in Canada. We collaborate to identify and bring focus to rural issues, build local capacity, and develop innovative, rural-based solutions to social and economic challenges.
About AREF: Created through the Real Estate Act, the Alberta Real Estate Foundation is a nonprofit grantmaking organization that supports and strengthens Alberta’s real estate industry and benefits Albertans. Through strategic investments, we fund projects across a diverse range of initiatives designed to bolster the work of the industry, government, and our land and built environments.
Media Contacts:
| Lisa Belanger Chief Executive Officer ceo@ruraldevelopment.ca | Joy Vonk Manager of Operations joyv@ruraldevelopment.ca |
For Immediate Release- January 24, 2025
ALBERTA — On behalf of the Rural Development Network (RDN), the Sustainable Housing Initiative (SHI) has partnered with the Town of Peace River to collaboratively explore locally-informed solutions that will enable diverse housing development in their community.
SHI is working to support diverse, sustainable, and equitable housing development in northern Alberta communities through its Enabling Housing Choice North Project. This project was made possible through funding and support from the Alberta Real Estate Foundation (AREF).
Recognizing the need to support Municipalities in their effort to accommodate a greater diversity of housing types to meet resident needs, we are pleased to partner with the Rural Development Network and the Town of Peace River on this important project” says Patti Morris, Executive Director of the Alberta Real Estate Foundation. “The Enabling Housing Choice North project aims to drive long-term policy change in Alberta’s rural communities to support long-term resiliency. We are honoured to support this critical effort.
The purpose of this project partnership is to perform extensive research on the challenges and opportunities that currently exist within Peace River’s housing landscape. Findings from this research will assist in responding to the diverse housing demands that emerge from Peace River.
“The Enabling Housing Choice North project is an impactful initiative to help improve housing diversity in northern Alberta communities, benefiting residents and fostering long-term resiliency,” says Lisa Belanger, Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Development Network. “We are excited to work with the Town of Peace River to support the community in developing more housing diversity through research and planning, and to incorporate these strategies into the Guidebook that serves as a resource for communities across the country.”
“We are thrilled to partner with the Rural Development Network and Sustainable Housing Initiative on the Enabling Housing Choice North Project. This is a wonderful opportunity to gain valuable insights into our community’s housing needs and explore innovative ways to meet them.” says Mayor Elaine Manzer of the Town of Peace River.
Project Goals:
About RDN: The Rural Development Network (RDN) is a non-profit organization that works with rural, remote and Indigenous communities and organizations in Canada. We collaborate to identify and bring focus to rural issues, build local capacity, and develop innovative, rural-based solutions to social and economic challenges.
Media Contacts:
| Lisa Belanger Chief Executive Officer ceo@ruraldevelopment.ca | Joy Vonk Manager of Operations joyv@ruraldevelopment.ca |
For Immediate Release- January 20, 2025
ENABLING HOUSING CHOICE NORTH PROJECT IN FAIRVIEW
ALBERTA — On behalf of the Rural Development Network (RDN), the Sustainable Housing Initiative (SHI) has partnered with the Town of Fairview to collaboratively explore locally-informed solutions that will enable diverse housing development in their community.
SHI is working to support diverse, sustainable, and equitable housing development in northern Alberta communities through its Enabling Housing Choice North Project. This project was made possible through funding and support from the Alberta Real Estate Foundation (AREF).
“Recognizing the need to support Municipalities in their effort to accommodate a greater diversity of housing types to meet resident needs, we are pleased to partner with the Rural Development Network and the Town of Fairview on this important project” says Patti Morris, Executive Director of the Alberta Real Estate Foundation. “The Enabling Housing Choice North Project aims to drive long-term policy change in Alberta’s rural communities to support long-term resiliency. We are honoured to support this critical effort.”
The purpose of this project partnership is to perform extensive research on the challenges and opportunities that currently exist within Fairview’s housing landscape. Findings from this research will assist in responding to the diverse housing demands that emerge from Fairview.
“Improving housing choice and diversity is essential to building resilient and thriving communities,” says Lisa Belanger, Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Development Network. “Through the Enabling Housing Choice North project, we are proud to partner with the Town of Fairview to identify effective approaches to meet the housing needs of current and future residents. This collaborative effort will help inform strategies for the community, and be incorporated into the Guidebook as a resource for communities across the country”.
We are thrilled to partner with the Rural Development Network on this project,” says Chair Paul Buck of the Fairview Economic Development Committee. “As our community grows, it is essential that we expand housing options to meet the diverse needs of our residents. This initiative not only supports increased housing choice, but also fosters economic development and long-term growth for Fairview. We are confident that the insights gained from this project will strengthen our community and contribute to a thriving future.
Project Goals:
To identify opportunities for enabling housing choice in Fairview through research and analysis
To understand what housing typology best serves the needs of the community
To increase affordable and diverse housing availability in Fairview
About RDN: The Rural Development Network (RDN) is a non-profit organization that works with rural, remote and Indigenous communities and organizations in Canada. We collaborate to identify and bring focus to rural issues, build local capacity, and develop innovative, rural-based solutions to social and economic challenges.
About AREF: Created through the Real Estate Act, the Alberta Real Estate Foundation is a nonprofit grantmaking organization that supports and strengthens Alberta’s real estate industry and benefits Albertans. Through strategic investments, we fund projects across a diverse range of initiatives designed to bolster the work of the industry, government, and our land and built environments.
Media Contacts:
| Lisa Belanger Chief Executive Officer ceo@ruraldevelopment.ca | Joy Vonk Manager of Operations joyv@ruraldevelopment.ca |
Rayann Campmans, a Grade 12 student from Picture Butte High School, was inspired to create an agricultural program for her school. The program, which aimed to expose students to farm-based learning, gained popularity and drew 56 students this year. The school applied to the creation of the FarmEd Toolkit, Developed by the Rural Development Network, a farm-based learning guide, inspired by a successful school farm project at Altario School in north-central Alberta.
The Altario Agricultural Academy was launched in 2020, and its student-led farm is the hub of numerous learning activities. The farmyard facility houses livestock such as chickens, turkeys, geese, pigs, sheep, and cow-calf pairs. With $300,000 in funds from sources like the Prairie Land Public School Division, the school also recently added a modular, containerized hydroponic operation where students grow leafy greens.
Students in grades one through six act as farmhands, while those in grades seven to 12 assume leadership positions. Their agrarian projects are tied to career studies, and morning chores are followed as needed throughout the day. Students are encouraged to think of farming as a river, with its opposite banks representing educational value and sustainability.
“We really thought there would be opportunity there for other rural schools to implement similar experiential learning initiatives with school farms,” said Lisa Belanger, Rural Development CEO.
Funded by the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, Rural Development formed an advisory board and launched a pilot project to create the FarmEd Toolkit. They conducted focus groups with students and staff at Altario and a few other schools that expressed interest in farm programming. Picture Butte High School and Irvine School participated in 2022 as pilot project partners, shaping the final version of the Toolkit.
The FarmEd Toolkit now serves as a guide for communities and schools to invent their own farm-based learning initiatives.
Canada – March 26, 2024
The Rural Development Network and Mountain Rose Women’s Shelter Association are thrilled to announce the launch of the Shelter Pulse Database – an online database of research-based, trauma-informed policies and procedures for violence against women shelters across the country. Through the partnership between Mountain Rose Women’s Shelter Association and Rural Development Network, and conversations with rural women’s shelters across Canada, we identified a need for increased capacity in policy development and maintenance, specifically focusing on trauma-informed and feminist lenses.
“The Shelter Pulse Database project enabled rural and remote shelters to work together in providing trauma-informed policies and procedures for violence against women shelters in Canada. The experts from the field that gathered to share their knowledge to the Shelter Pulse Database make this new tool invaluable. Under the leadership of the Rural Development Network, many partner shelters contributed to the outcome”, says Cindy Easton, Executive Director of the Mountain Rose Women’s Shelter Association.
This project recognizes that many rural and remote women’s shelters face barriers beyond their control as they struggle with small budgets and less staff capacity, resulting in administrative work often taking a back seat to support community members accessing services. Aimed to fill this gap in capacity, the Shelter Pulse Database is a comprehensive resource designed to provide women’s shelters with easy access to essential policies and procedures. Developed in collaboration with those in the shelter/Violence Against Women (VAW) sector, this database offers a wealth of current best and promising practices and information to help enhance their operations and support services.
Lisa Bélanger, CEO of the Rural Development Network, explains, “Rural communities and organizations often face unique barriers and capacity challenges. Our goal with this project has been to build the capacity of rural women’s shelters by creating this policy database, and we are so thankful for all the partners that have contributed to make this impactful resource a reality.”
The Shelter Pulse Database is unique for a couple of reasons: (1) it is a platform for those working in the shelter/VAW sector to work and collaborate, and (2) it has customizable policy and procedure templates that are downloadable into editable Word documents. This allows shelters across Canada to align every policy and procedure with the distinct needs and circumstances of the organization and community in which they serve. Equally significant is the database’s capacity to receive real-time feedback on individual policies and procedures via adjacent comment boxes, ensuring that regular updates and additions are considered and relevant resources can be easily shared.
If you work in women’s shelters or the gender-based violence sector, you are invited to check out the database and create an account at www.shelterpulse.ca.
For more information, please contact:
MEDIA CONTACT:
Mary McGuire
Project Manager
587-792-2282
Lisa Bélanger
CEO
587-792-2199
ABOUT THE RURAL DEVELOPMENT NETWORK
RDN is a not-for-profit that facilitates, supports, and champions rural community development through collaboration, research, and service provision. RDN supports the sustainability of rural communities and works with communities to amplify the “rural voice”. RDN collaborates to identify and bring focus to rural issues, build local capacity, and find innovative, rural-based solutions to unique issues.
ABOUT MOUNTAIN ROSE WOMEN’S SHELTER ASSOCIATION
Mountain Rose Women’s Shelter Association (MRWSA) was incorporated in 1990 and since that time provides services to women and children who are in immediate need of safety and security due to domestic/family violence. MRWSA’s mission is to provide resources and support to individuals and families impacted by domestic violence in West Central Alberta. Their vision is to ensure the availability of 24-hour crisis intervention, domestic violence support, resources and accommodation while promoting a non-violent society through prevention, education and awareness.
This project has been funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada.
Canada – Le 26 mars 2024
Le réseau Rural Development Network et la Mountain Rose Women’s Shelter Association sont heureux d’annoncer le lancement de la base de données Shelter Pulse. Cette base de données en ligne, destinée aux maisons d’hébergement pour femmes violentées de l’ensemble du pays, contient des politiques et des procédures fondées sur la recherche et tenant compte des traumatismes. Le partenariat du réseau Rural Development Network avec la Mountain Rose Women’s Shelter Association et les conversations avec diverses maisons d’hébergement pour femmes en régions rurales des quatre coins du Canada nous a permis de cerner un besoin d’accroissement des capacités en élaboration et en entretien de politiques, plus précisément des politiques tenant compte des traumatismes et des questions féministes.
« Le projet de base de données Shelter Pulse a permis aux maisons d’hébergement en régions rurales et éloignées de travailler ensemble pour aboutir à des politiques et à des procédures tenant compte des traumatismes, ces politiques et procédures étant destinées aux maisons d’hébergement pour femmes violentées au Canada. Les connaissances mises en commun par les spécialistes du domaine dans le but de réaliser la base de données Shelter Pulse font de ce nouvel outil une ressource d’une importance inestimable. De nombreuses maisons d’hébergement ont joué un rôle dans cette ressource, sous l’égide du réseau Rural Development Network, a déclaré Cindy Easton, directrice générale de la Mountain Rose Women’s Shelter Association.
Ce projet reconnaît que bien des maisons d’hébergement pour femmes font face à des obstacles indépendants de leur volonté, disposent de budgets modestes et ont une capacité de personnel restreinte, au point où il arrive souvent que les tâches administratives soient négligées pour consacrer plus de temps aux services auxquels les membres de la communauté doivent avoir accès. La base de données Shelter Pulse a pour but de resserrer l’écart sur le plan des capacités. Cette ressource exhaustive est conçue pour aider les maisons d’hébergement pour femmes à avoir facilement accès aux politiques et aux procédures essentielles. Cette base de données, préparée en collaboration avec les intervenants du secteur des maisons d’hébergement et de la violence faite aux femmes (VFF), offre une panoplie de pratiques exemplaires et prometteuses ainsi qu’une gamme d’informations visant à améliorer les opérations et les services de soutien de ce secteur.
Lisa Bélanger, cheffe de la direction du réseau Rural Development Network, explique : « Les communautés et les organisations des régions rurales font souvent face à des obstacles uniques et à des défis en matière de capacités. Avec ce projet, notre objectif consiste à renforcer les capacités des maisons d’hébergement pour femmes en régions rurales en créant une base de données de politiques. Nous sommes très reconnaissants envers tous les partenaires qui ont joué un rôle dans la réalisation de cette ressource des plus efficaces. »
La base de données Shelter Pulse est unique pour deux raisons : 1) il s’agit d’une plateforme permettant aux personnes du secteur des maisons d’hébergement et de la VFF de travailler ensemble et de collaborer; et 2) il s’agit d’une plateforme comprenant des modèles de politiques et de procédures en documents Word téléchargeables, personnalisables et modifiables. Tout cela permet aux maisons d’hébergement de l’ensemble du pays d’ajuster chaque politique et chaque procédure aux circonstances et aux besoins propres à leur organisation et à la communauté où elles évoluent. Il est aussi important de noter que cette base de données a la possibilité de recevoir des commentaires en temps réel sur les diverses politiques et procédures grâce aux cases de commentaires adjacentes, ce qui permet de considérer des mises à jour et des ajouts réguliers, en plus de favoriser le partage de ressources pertinentes en toute facilité.
Si vous travaillez dans le secteur des maisons d’hébergement pour femmes ou de la violence sexiste, nous vous invitons à jeter un coup d’œil à cette base de données et à créer un compte à www.shelterpulse.ca.
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Pour de plus amples renseignements, veuillez communiquer avec :
PERSONNE-RESSOURCES POUR LES MÉDIAS :
Mary McGuire
Gestionnaire du projet
587-792-2282
Lisa Bélanger
Cheffe de la direction
587-792-2199
AU SUJET DE RURAL DEVELOPMENT NETWORK
Le réseau Rural Development Network (RDN) est un organisme sans but lucratif qui facilite, soutient et favorise le développement communautaire rural par le biais de la collaboration, de la recherche et de la prestation de services. RDN soutient la durabilité des communautés rurales et travaille en collaboration avec les communautés dans le but d’amplifier la « voix rurale ». RDN travaille en collaboration avec les communautés pour cerner et faire valoir les enjeux ruraux, renforcer les capacités locales et trouver des solutions rurales novatrices à des enjeux uniques.
AU SUJET DE LA MOUNTAIN ROSE WOMEN’S SHELTER ASSOCIATION
La Mountain Rose Women’s Shelter Association (MRWSA) a été constituée en 1990. Depuis, elle a fourni des services aux femmes et aux enfants ayant des besoins immédiats en matière de sûreté et de sécurité en raison de la violence domestique et familiale. La mission de cette association consiste à fournir des ressources et du soutien aux personnes et aux familles touchées par la violence domestique dans le centre-ouest de l’Alberta. Sa vision consiste à faire en sorte que ses services d’intervention en cas de crise ainsi que de soutien en matière de violence domestique et d’hébergement soient disponibles 24 heures sur 24, tout en faisant la promotion d’une société sans violence par le biais de la prévention, de l’éducation et de la sensibilisation.
Ce projet a été financé par Femmes et Égalité des genres Canada.
Following a city council meeting presentation by the Rural Development Network (RDN) about the first-ever homelessness study in the city, more details have been released.
According to a release from city officials, the Homelessness Estimation Survey will be launched next week on Monday, March 11.
“Continuing to foster and build a caring community is one of our council priorities and supporting residents experiencing social vulnerability is an important part of that,” said Mayor Peter Brown. “This survey will provide us with an opportunity to learn more about members of our community who we don’t always have the chance to hear from.”
The survey will be conducted by RDN, which is a national nonprofit organization that specializes in identifying and addressing social needs in communities across Canada. Running from March 11 to April 24, the survey aims to address several issues including:
Housing insecurity and homelessness can look different in smaller communities than it does in larger urban centres and include those who are unsheltered, which is defined as living on the streets or in places not intended for human habitation, but also those who are emergency sheltered, defined as people who are staying in overnight shelters due to homelessness and/or family violence.
Other crucial differences include those who would be classified as provisionally accommodated, meaning people with accommodation that is temporary or lacks security, such as couch-surfing, people in domestic violence situations, etc, as well as those who are at risk of homelessness.
Anyone in the community who is currently experiencing any of the forms of housing insecurity above is encouraged to complete the survey online or in person at participating service providers in the community. More information on Airdrie’s Homelessness Estimation Survey, including a link to the survey and a list of participating agencies, can be found on the city’s website.
“Social service providers in Airdrie report that more and more community residents are experiencing housing insecurity and houselessness. Having accurate data on the needs of our community becomes increasingly important as we work towards ensuring everyone in Airdrie has safe, secure, and appropriate housing,” added Angela Angel, a social planner with the City of Airdrie.
RDN, will collect and analyze the data, and develop the report, which will be shared back with Council and the community in the fall of 2024.
With the housing crisis continuing to be a concern across the country, Mayerthorpe town council approved a housing report during its regular meeting last week. The Enabling Housing Choice (EHC) project report is intended to define Mayerthorpe’s housing development priorities and assist with housing grant applications, according to council’s agenda package.
“This (report) was funded through the real estate association,” Karen St. Martin, Mayerthorpe’s acting chief administrative officer, told council.
In 2023, the town worked with the Rural Development Network (RDN) on the report, investigating how to attract housing development to Mayerthorpe. The non-profit RDN runs the Sustainable Housing Initiative to support housing development through the EHC project. The town stated at the time it was looking at “the barriers and roadblocks that developers currently face in Mayerthorpe.”
The research would involve consultations with the development industry and the report was expected to be completed in May 2023. However, according to council’s agenda package last week, the report’s completion was delayed until September 2023, and council failed to approve it until recently. During council’s Feb. 26 meeting, St. Martin told council that approving the report would allow it to be published online.
Coun. Becky Wells’ motion to approve the report was carried.
One of the issues the report touches on is housing diversity, having a variety of housing types available in Mayerthorpe. Interviews in town showed participants expressed a desire to meet the needs of “a variety of demographics,” and to have something available to people of various income levels. Participants also stressed a need in Mayerthorpe for more rental options, according to the report. The report states that Mayerthorpe has two apartment buildings, one with 12 units and the other with six.
“People in Mayerthorpe are buying single-detached housing and turning them into rental units due to the shortage of rental apartments,” one interviewee is quoted as saying. “New commercial investment is generating jobs, but rental accommodations are full.”
An interviewee commented that lack of rental accommodations in Mayerthorpe will cause people to seek housing in other communities, like Whitecourt. The report also states more housing for seniors in Mayerthorpe is “urgent.”
Mayerthorpe already has tax rebates for housing development, for three years; the report recommended extending incentives for five years or more. The report further recommends amending the Land Use Bylaw to cut down on the number of residential land use districts in Mayerthorpe, from the current seven. Having seven causes inflexibility on what can be built where, hindering housing diversity, the report states.
Another recommendation is to allow more residential development in commercial and industrial districts, allowing businesses to house workers. Existing vacant lots can also be repurposed for residential development, the report recommends.
The report notes Mayerthorpe has applied for the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) to support development.
The Town of Mayerthorpe used the EHC project report to apply for HAF funds, according to council’s agenda package.
The Town of Whitecourt also applied to HAF in 2023; Whitecourt adopted its housing needs assessment in January 2024.
Participating service providers in Airdrie will provide paper copies to community members, and it will also be available online. Survey respondents will remain anonymous.
Airdrie’s first Homelessness Estimation Study is set to commence in March with a final report anticipated in the fall of 2024 that will include actions to tackle Airdrie specific issues.
“Homelessness can be understood as a spectrum in which people can experience being unsheltered, emergency sheltered, provisionally accommodated, and at-risk of homelessness,” said Emma Wallace, the study project manager from the Rural Development Network (RDN), during the March 4 Airdrie City Council meeting.
The key aims of the Homelessness Estimation Study are to help the City of Airdrie quantify homelessness in Airdrie, determine what service gaps exist and link to and inform the City’s work on Airdrie’s 2024-2030 Affordable Housing Principled Action Plan.
The survey will commence mid-March and run for 45 days until the end of April 2024.
Participating service providers in Airdrie will provide paper copies to community members, and it will also be available online. Survey respondents will remain anonymous.
The survey uses the federal government’s definition of homelessness which is described as “the situation of an individual, family or community without stable, safe, permanent, appropriate housing, or the immediate prospect, means and ability of acquiring it.”
Once the survey period is completed, the data will be analyzed and a final report will be completed in July. That report will be shared with council and Airdrie residents in the fall of 2024. Next steps will be taken in the winter of 2024 based on study results.
“We want to be able to use this data to help advocacy purposes in applying for funding to prevent and respond to homelessness, and most importantly looking to elevate and incorporate the voices of folks experiencing homelessness and solutions to end homelessness,” Wallace said.
The top factors leading to homelessness in Calgary, which is the closest city to Airdrie with data on homelessness, included low incomes, lack of affordable housing, conflicts with a spouse, conflicts with landlords, or substance use issues.
Based on the 2022 National Point in Time Count, there were 6,649 Albertans experiencing homelessness across the seven major cities. Wallace said there is no homelessness data in Airdrie.
A study of 45 communities across Alberta in 2023 showed that 69 per cent of homeless respondents were employed in some capacity, which means sometimes having a job is not enough.
“In reality, people experiencing homelessness are much more likely to have experienced violence or be a victim of crime than be the ones committing the crime,” Wallace said. “This is a common misconception because people experiencing homelessness do often interact with the criminal justice system, but this is as a result of activities required for daily survival, which are criminalized, for example going to the bathroom in public, loitering, or trespassing.”
Wallace added that someone does not have to be sleeping outside or “sleeping rough” to be experiencing homelessness. Homeless individuals often avoid the streets or emergency shelters in fear of their safety and will couch surf or stay in unsafe or inadequate housing.
Coun. Al Jones pointed out that some homeless individuals may not have access to the online survey, to which Wallace said local service agencies like the library, Airdrie’s Genesis Place, a victim support centre, and the local food bank would be providing paper copies. RDN will also work with the City to determine any areas in the City they could visit to distribute paper copies of the survey.
Wallace said it’s important to have up to date information about the City’s homelessness situation in order to apply for funding for things like affordable housing, which is also a requirement for builders.
RDN is currently working with local service agencies to translate the survey based on the needs of their clientele.
Homelessness in rural areas is on the rise and many communities are facing the challenge of supporting community members in need with limited resources and funds. “A lot of people think homelessness only exists in urban centers but recent research from Dr. Rebecca Schiff provides evidence that rural homelessness is not only prevalent, but in fact occurring at per capita rates that are greater than some urban centres,” explains Sydney Stenekes, Director of Homelessness Initiatives at the Rural Development Network (RDN).
This is where Reaching Home funding comes in to benefit communities. Often, rural communities need to develop new programs, shelters, and food bank services to support those in need – but have limited access to the funding needed.
“People who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness shouldn’t have to leave their home community to access support in urban centers. We believe in developing and investing in housing and services in smaller communities so folks don’t have to leave their communities and social networks to access supports and appropriate housing,” declares Sydney.
What is Reaching Home funding?
“The Reaching Home project is part of the Federal Government’s Homelessness Strategy that distributes funding to rural, remote, and Indigenous communities in Alberta, aimed at reducing and preventing homelessness across Canada,” Sydney explained.
The Reaching Home funding gets distributed to Alberta’s rural areas outside the seven major cities to support homelessness prevention and reduction. The Rural Development Network has been distributing funding for over 10 years to local organizations, municipalities, FCSS’s, Indigenous organizations, First Nations, and Métis communities across rural and remote Alberta.
How does the application process work?
The Reaching Home project strives to simplify the otherwise overwhelming process of applying for funds by making it as flexible as possible to suit and address the community’s needs.
According to Sydney, funds have supported innovative community driven solutions ranging from short-term immediate support to longer-term housing projects. As part of our organization’s commitment to reconciliation, the Reaching Home team has also been focusing on ways to ensure the application is more accessible to Indigenous communities and organizations.
Working alongside RDN’s Indigenous Liaison, Emele Neufeld and informed by feedback gathered from Indigenous partners and projects, the Reaching Home team revised the application process in 2022. The goal was to reduce barriers for Indigenous communities interested in applying for and accessing Reaching Home funding through offering culturally appropriate application and reporting methods and respecting Indigenous peoples’ oral traditions.” Recognizing that this is an important first step, the team acknowledges there is more work to be done and is committed to working towards decolonizing their approach to administering funding.
After applications have been submitted by rural, remote and Indigenous communities and organizations in Alberta, Sydney and her team present projects to the Regional Advisory Board, who are responsible for making decisions related to the funding.
“There are currently nine members on the board representing various rural, remote and Indigenous communities and positions in the housing & homelessness sector who bring their expertise to the table and are tasked with the difficult decisions on which projects receive funding,” Sydney explained.
Sydney also reiterated that even if a community is not successful with their application, her team’s intentions are to provide feedback to assist with future applications and offer to work with the community to support them with coordinating responses to homelessness, accessing alternative funding and connecting them to relevant resources. Recognizing that homelessness is a shared responsibility, Sydney and her team are consistently advocating for increased funding at various government levels to support the growing need to respond to rural homelessness.
Top 5 types of projects Reaching Home has funded to date
The Reaching Home team encourages applicants to be as creative as needed to address homelessness in their community. So far the top five projects that have been funded include the following:
Project Outcomes
In 2022-2023, Reaching Home Supported
Applications are now open for 2024-2026!
All eligible organizations and initiatives are invited and encouraged to apply for funding: Apply today! Have questions or not sure how to get started? Reach out directly to Sydney Stenekes.
11443-143 Street,
NW Edmonton,
Alberta T5M 1V7
