The province's 10-year plan to end homelessness took some major steps Tuesday, with the government handing over $12 million to help the Mustard Seed Society build 112 housing units for Edmonton and Calgary's homeless.
The $12 million announcement was made in Edmonton Tuesday and is part of the government's $100 million budget for the 10-year plan to end homelessness.
"Our aim is to progress beyond addressing homelessness through emergency shelters," said Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Jonathan Denis. "We are one year into our provincial plan, and we are encouraged because we are seeing a downward trend in shelter stays across the province."
Taking care of one homeless person can cost the province about $100,000 a year in medical and criminal justice costs, while providing permanent housing costs just $35,000. While the latter cost may be significantly less, Premier Ed Stelmach says the value is immeasurable.
"It's the right thing to do," said Premier Ed Stelmach. "There are people out on the streets who have undergone some difficult personal circumstance, tragedies in life, they need the support…it's the human thing to do."
More than 1,300 of Alberta's homeless have also been provided with permanent shelter. Judi Deslauriers is one of those people who've been provided with housing, a gesture she says that is much more about four walls and a roof.
"I don't ever want to live outside again," said Deslauriers. "You have to find a place to put your stuff, you have to eat out of garbages sometimes."
The province says the plan to eliminate homelessness has already made some headway, with shelter usage declining in Alberta over the past year.
However, one skeptic says it's too early for the province to be saying there has been a drop in the number of people using shelters.
"When someone says the numbers in a homeless shelter are down, I say it's because they are staying by the riverbank and the weather is nice," said Tim Murphy.
The province says that in nine years, when the 10-year plan to end homlessness is complete, when a homless person seeks help they'll be guaranteed permanent housing within 21 days.
With files from Serena Mah
