Permanent Supportive Housing Capital and Operational Funding
IT IS THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT Alberta Municipalities advocate to the Government of Alberta and the Government of Canada to increase capital and operational funding for municipalities in Alberta for permanent supportive housing to ensure appropriate housing options are available for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness.
WHEREAS the number of people experiencing chronic homelessness has increased substantially since 2018, with numbers doubling in some Alberta municipalities;
WHEREAS the demand for supportive housing is high and Alberta municipalities are lacking sufficient permanent supportive housing options to meet the needs of people experiencing chronic homelessness with highly complex needs;
WHEREAS Alberta municipalities require both capital and operational funding for new permanent supportive housing developments to be feasible and sustainable; and
WHEREAS investments in long-term housing solutions for people experiencing chronic homelessness is far less expensive than supporting their needs while in emergency shelters and encampments.
There has been an increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness and the rate of chronic homelessness across Canada, according to Infrastructure Canada’s Everyone Counts 2020- 2022 - Findings from the Nationally Coordinated Point-in-Time Count Results. (1)
(1) "Everyone Counts 2020-2022 – Findings from the Nationally Coordinated Point-in-Time Counts," Infrastructure Canada February 1, 2024.
- Compared to previous counts in 2018, there was a 20% increase across the country, with unsheltered homelessness increasing by 88%.
- Some Alberta municipalities have experienced an increase of 50% or greater in homelessness since 2018.
Supportive housing options are in high demand in Alberta municipalities due to the high prevalence of chronicity and complexity of needs among local homeless populations.
Permanent Supportive Housing provides long-term housing and support to individuals who are homeless and experiencing complex mental health, addiction, and physical health barriers. This program provides an appropriate level of service for chronically homeless individuals who may need support for an indeterminate length of time while striving to achieve increased independence.
By prioritizing chronically homeless individuals who require high levels of support, permanent supportive housing increases their likelihood of remaining housed long term. This reduces the instances of individuals returning to homelessness after being housed, thereby alleviating the personal impacts and system pressures that may result.
Investments in permanent supportive housing solutions tend to be more cost-effective than continually supporting individuals in emergency shelters and encampments. Those investments also contribute to a significantly decreased demand on other systems, such as justice and health, with provincial data highlighting that homelessness supports funding resulting in a 64.3% reduction in jail time, 53.6% decrease in hospital usage, and 50.3% decrease in emergency medical service responses.
This resolution aligns with previous ABmunis advocacy on the need for increased permanent supportive housing to address homelessness. If this resolution is passed, it would be forwarded to the Government of Alberta for response and further advocacy would be recommended to the ABmunis Board by the Safe and Healthy Communities Committee within the context of related priorities and positions.