City ending temporary funding to expand homeless day shelter space
Temporary funding by the City of Edmonton to expand day shelter spaces at the Bissell Centre and Boyle Street Community Services is running out.
The city last year approved additional money for the shelters. The city's funding was originally brought in during the pandemic.
During a private meeting last week, city administration reminded councillors the funding was running low.
No one made a motion for additional support.
Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said the funding was always meant to be a temporary emergency measure and falls outside the city's jurisdiction.
"Dealing with houselessness, dealing with shelter spaces, which have increased over the last few months, are provincial responsibilities, and we filled that gap during (the COVID-19 pandemic)," Sohi told media on Wednesday.
"I think at this time it is very difficult to continue to take on the responsibilities that the province should be meeting under their constitutional obligations."
Heather Barlow, the press secretary for the minister of seniors, community and social services, told CTV News Edmonton in a statement the Alberta government "does not fund daytime drop in services and has not historically provided direct funding to Boyle Street Community Services or the Bissell Centre."
"Significant funding is allocated to shelters that provide overnight accommodations and are funded to remain open 24/7 to provide supports for people experiencing homelessness," Barlow said.
"In 2024-25 funding for homelessness initiatives in Edmonton is $84 million that will support up to 1,800 shelter spaces. Neither Boyle nor Bissell have requested operational funding from the province."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP calls out Conservatives for effort to squash pharmacare legislation
The federal New Democrats are calling out Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and his party for trying to block the bill that could pave the way for millions of Canadians to access birth control and diabetes coverage.
Stamp prices rise for the third time in five years amid financial woes for Canada Post
Canada Post is increasing stamp prices for the third time since 2019, a move the Crown corporation says is a "reality" of its sales-based revenue structure.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
A subset of Alzheimer's cases may be caused by two copies of a single gene, new research shows
For the first time, researchers have identified a genetic form of late-in-life Alzheimer’s disease — in people who inherit two copies of a worrisome gene.
Ontario MPP asked again to leave Ontario legislature over keffiyeh, Speaker loosens ban
An Ontario MPP was asked again to leave the Ontario legislature on Monday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that was banned by the Speaker last month due to its political symbolism.
WATCH Avian flu: Risk to humans grows as outbreaks spread, warns expert
H5N1 or avian flu is decimating wildlife around the world and is now spreading among cattle in the United States, sparking concerns about 'pandemic potential' for humans. Now a health expert is urging Canada to scale up surveillance north of the border.
Trudeau Liberals to unveil new bill Monday aimed at countering foreign interference
Democratic Institutions Minister Dominic LeBlanc will be tabling legislation on Monday aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada. Federal officials have scheduled a technical briefing on the incoming bill for Monday afternoon.