[homeles_ot-l] WI: Alberta announces $3.2b plan to end homelessness by 2019

[Lynne Browne]

FYI…Lynne Browne

Coordinator, Alliance to End Homelessness (ATEH)

147 Besserer St., Ottawa, ON K1N 6A7

613-241-7913, ext. 205, Cell 613-513-6647

HYPERLINK "http://www.endhomelessnessottawa.ca"www.endhomelessnessottawa.ca


   _____  

From: hhno-on-owner at povnet.org [mailto:hhno-on-owner at povnet.org] On Behalf
Of Michael Shapcott
Sent: March 16, 2009 3:54 PM
To: Michael Shapcott
Subject: [hhno-on] WI: Alberta announces $3.2b plan to end homelessness by
2019

 

The Alberta government has today released a HYPERLINK
"http://www.housing.alberta.ca/documents/PlanForAB_Secretariat_final.pdf"dra
matic plan to end homelessness in 10 years by committing $1.2 billion in
capital investments and $2 billion in operating funding. The plan – based on
the “housing first” approach (which provides immediate housing and then
offers supports as required) – will lead to the creation of 11,000 new homes
by 2012, according to the provincial government. Full details, including
funding and implementation lines, will be released in next month’s
provincial budget. 

 

Alberta’s plan – the first of its kind among the federal government and
Canada’s provinces and territories – builds on top of a record of dramatic
increases in affordable housing investments in recent years. Alberta cut
provincial affordable housing investments in the early 1990s, as did many
other provinces, but has dramatically increased investments in the past
couple of years. 

 

>From fiscal 2007 to 2008 (the latest year for which numbers are available),
Alberta’s housing investments jumped 140% to $4.57 billion – a record
increased compared to other provinces. With today’s announcement, Alberta’s
investments are scheduled to continue to increase. The critical details of
the Alberta plan will be closely scrutinized by housing experts (more
detailed analysis from the Wellesley Institute will follow), but the news
has surprised more than a few housing advocates who don’t expect the Alberta
government to be blazing the lead on critical social policy issues such as
affordable housing. 

 

Compared to Ontario, for instance, Alberta – at about one-quarter the
population – is making investments in affordable housing that are
substantially higher than Ontario, which is leading to the creation of more
affordable homes in that province. Much of the credit for today’s
announcement goes to active and energetic housing groups in Calgary,
Edmonton, Red Deer and many other municipalities which created local 10-year
housing plans and then “uploaded” the requirements to meet those plans to
the provincial level. 

 

-          Michael 

 

***

 

Michael Shapcott | Director of Community Engagement | Wellesley Institute 

45 Charles St E, Suite 101                    Tel: 416.972.1010 ext 231
Toronto, ON, Canada,  M4Y 1S2           Mobile: 416.605.8316  
E-mail:   michael at wellesleyinstitute.com

 

www.wellesleyinstitute.com

rigorous research. pragmatic policy solutions. social innovation. community
action.

 


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