Homelessness and Associated Social Needs in Rural Communities
IT IS THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT Alberta Municipalities advocate to the Government of Alberta to:
• Invest in the rural municipalities to aid in the development of affordable housing units and support those most vulnerable to the current economic and health impacts.
• Maximize the funding that can be leveraged from the Government of Canada, and increase research directed towards the prevention of homelessness among marginalized and vulnerable populations, and evidence-based intervention plans for those currently experiencing homelessness.
• Encourage the province to dedicate additional resources towards creating permanent shelter spaces in coordination with smaller communities who request it; ensuring homeless and women emergency shelters have the operating funding support they need; funding bridge housing to help transition people from shelters into supportive housing with additional supports;
• Invest in the cost-effective health and support services needed to help those with complex needs get housed and stay housed, resulting in a visible reduction in homelessness and a drastic savings in health, justice, and law enforcement costs.
• Investigation of interventions to promote resilience in different populations at risk for homelessness, including those within rural, suburban, or urban areas.
WHEREAS safe, stable, affordable, accessible, and permanent housing is a human right, and its absence negatively impacts typical development; physical and mental health functioning; nutrition; social and emotional wellbeing; education, employment, and training opportunities; academic success; family and social cohesion; and the ability to exercise individual rights and responsibilities; (1)
(1) American Psychological Association. (2021a). APA resolution on APA, psychology, and human rights. In Council policy manual. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/about/policy/resolution-psychology-humanrights
WHEREAS the provision of addressing homelessness and affordable housing falls within Federal and Provincial jurisdiction;
WHEREAS the Government of Canada renewed their support for affordable housing, and reducing chronic homelessness nationally by 50% by fiscal year 2027 to 2028, through the National Housing Strategy and a commitment to invest $40 billion in capital over 10 years;
WHEREAS according to the Government of Alberta’s Economic Multiplier Analysis, every $1 invested in building affordable housing creates $1.74 in total economic output;
WHEREAS in times of economic downturn, pandemics, job loss, and periods of high rates of under-employment and unemployment, persons of low socioeconomic status and those living in poverty in urban, suburban, and rural locations are at significantly heightened risk of losing stable housing resulting in homelessness; (2)
(2) (e.g., Blustein et al., 2019; Desmond, 2016; Kopf, 2017; Shinn & Khadduri, 2020; United States Conference of Mayors, 2020)
WHEREAS homelessness results from systematic barriers, structural racism, anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination, and embedded social injustices including the lack of safe and affordable housing; discriminatory gaps in wages based on gender, race, ethnicity, and immigration status; high costs of food, childcare, transportation, and utilities; insufficient supportive community services, including those targeted to treat mental health and substance disorders; under-funded schools ill equipped to prepare students for academic or vocational success; scarce job training programs; limited early childcare and after school programs to support working families; inadequate and unfair wages; job layoffs and under-employment;
WHEREAS the purpose of municipalities are to develop and maintain safe and viable communities, and provide services and facilities that are necessary as established through Alberta’s Municipal Government Act; and local residents, businesses, and communities are expressing concerns to their municipalities about the negative impact that homelessness is having on both individuals experiencing homelessness and the broader community; (3)
(3) City of Edmonton’s Provincial Support for Addressing Affordable Housing and Homelessness (2020) https://www.abmunis.ca/advocacy-resources/resolutions-library/provincia…
Rural homelessness is a huge issue and it is a bigger problem that most people realize. Rural homelessness might look different than in urban centres but the percentage of those experiencing homelessness is the same in both places. There are some people who cannot afford a place to live due to a small and competitive rental market.
With the continued increase in pressures resulting from the transfer or assumption of responsibilities to municipalities without the resources to properly support them from federal and provincial government, many municipalities are recognizing that while there is a definite need for these support services but unfortunately, many municipalities are not able to fully provide financial supports and there is a need for increased sources of funding, which must be provided from all orders of government.
The Government of Alberta’s Budget 2023 talks about providing essential services and supports, with $316 million over 3 years for ongoing supports for affordable housing.
On March 1, 2023, Alberta Municipalities (ABMunis) release its Preliminary Analysis of the Government of Alberta’s 2023 Budget, which included the following comments regarding Affordable Housing:
“Released in 2021, Alberta’s affordable housing strategy maps out the changes needed to provide affordable housing for an additional 25,000 households over the next 10 years, an increase of more than 40 per cent. To meet this target the province aims to support the creation of 2,300 new affordable housing units and new low-income rental subsidies per year each of the next three years. Budget 2023-24 allocated $342.5 million for affordable housing, including rent supplements. Of the $342.5 million, $34.3 million is allocated to help grow the supply of affordable housing in priority areas through the Affordable Housing Partnership Program.”
On February 28, 2020, AUMA (now ABmunis) released its Preliminary Analysis of the Government of Alberta’s 2020 Budget, which included the following comments regarding Affordable Housing:
“AUMA is very concerned to see significant cuts to capital investment in affordable housing for both the development of new units, as well as the maintenance and repair of existing units. Addressing Alberta’s lack of affordable housing is a priority for municipalities. In addition to stimulating employment and economic growth, capital investment in affordable housing yields long-term savings for all levels of government due to decreased use of health services, police and justice services, child welfare, and other services such as homeless shelters, income supports, and addictions and mental health supports."