The Edmonton Committee to End Homelessness is a community-based approach that aims to end homelessness in Edmonton in 10 years.
The committee is made up of leading citizens who represent government, business, labour, healthcare and social services — critical areas that can come together and find solutions to end homelessness.
What's New?
Ending Homelessness - Changing Lives event
The Edmonton Chamber of Commerce invites you to join Frank O'Dea, Founder of the Second Cup, on Thursday May 3rd.
Download the registration form.
View a video of Frank's invitation to the event.
Capital Region Interfaith Housing Initiative
About the Initiative [PDF]
You can help end homelessness by 2018
November 23, 2011
City addressing violence through outreach to homeless
Funding to Boyle Street Community Services part of Violence Reduction Action Plan
read the news release
Study of the the Homeless in Edmonton with Intensive Needs
Less than 3 years into the implementation of the 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness, over 1500 people have made the journey from homelessness to home. To build on this success and take implementation to the next level we realized that there was a small portion of the homeless population that had intensive needs and were the most difficult to house. The Commission engaged KPMG and OrgCode Consulting to profile this sub-population and their needs; to outline the current housing and supports available; to identify local and other best practices for serving this population; and to make recommendations about how to best house and support that portion of the homeless population with intensive needs. The attached report [PDF] was released on November 21, 2011.
April 29, 2010
The following reports and news releases were announced at the Year 1 Update press conference at City Hall.
- A Place to Call Home: Edmonton's 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness Executive Summary [PDF]
- A year after the release of A Place to Call Home, Edmonton’s 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness is already celebrating significant advances. In some cases it has exceeded its targets for year 1. End Edmonton Homelessness Update, Year 1 [PDF]
- Stories of Hope, Year 1 [PDF]
- News Release Backgrounder - Homelessness Questions and Answers [PDF]
See the Year 1 Update Video
October 8, 2009
Sean began to understand the challenges faced by the homeless when he started volunteering at the Hope Mission. His experience moved him so much that he wrote a song in October 2008 entitled A Place to Call Home [MP3]. As fate would have it, the Committee to End Homelessness tabled their report with the same title just a few months later. Sean recently contacted the newly-formed Homeless Commission and offered to let us use his song to inspire others to get involved and help end homelessness by 2018.
As Sean's story demonstrates, people of any age can use their talents and abilities to make a difference. The first step is to learn about homelessness and the 10-year plan to end it. After that, the possibilities are endless. You can do something as simple as talking about the issue with friends, neighbours and politicians, or you can volunteer and donate to agencies that help the homeless directly. Corporations can even get involved by offering their expertise and support to agencies or newly-housed people. The key is to decide what skills you have to contribute and then get involved!
City Council takes first step to put plan into action
Feb 4, 2009
Edmonton's City Council unanimously endorsed the committee's 10-year plan and established the Edmonton Homeless Commission, as envisioned in the 10-year plan.
Homeless Commission bylaw (pdf)
Committee wins community leadership award
Feb 3, 2009
Homeward Trust Edmonton's Larry Shaben Award for Outstanding Leadership in Housing Sector recognizes individuals highly committed to working in the housing sector, promote or develop housing, and are passionate about what they do.
Homeward Trust news release
10-year plan to end homelessness
Jan 29, 2009