‘Warming bus isn’t enough’: Calls for shelter spaces, more support for Edmonton’s homeless

A small group of advocates gathered outside city hall Monday morning to provide necessities to Edmonton’s most vulnerable.

They also called on the city to provide warm shelter for the homeless community this winter.

“We live in a winter city, I don’t understand why we’re in November even having this discussion,” said Angela Staines, the founder of 4B Harm Reduction Society. “This should have been a discussion and a decision made in the summer even.”

Edmonton homeless protest on Nov. 21, 2022. (Credit: CityNews/Laura Krause)

And even trying to stay warm can be perilous. Edmonton Fire Rescue Services says it has responded to 17 tent fires since Sept. 1, including a deadly one on Nov. 3.

Staines says she has seen first-hand the frostbite injuries many endured last winter, and says solutions are needed now before more lives are lost.

“A warming bus isn’t enough,” she said. “We need shelter spaces, we need a warm place for people to go as the weather gets colder. We are lucky to get a bit of a break this week but it’s still pretty cold and I don’t think any of them could last five minutes in a tent out here.”

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There’s no one method to tracking seasonal deaths among the vulnerable. And Alberta Health Services says it does not track data on how many amputations there have been due to the cold elements.

Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi say while housing is a provincial and federal responsibility, the city is doing everything it can to provide resources to Edmonton’s vulnerable community.

“It is a shared responsibility,” said Sohi. “It breaks my heart seeing people struggling, going unsheltered, being exposed to cold, exposed to other elements that they should not be exposed to. And we will continue to advocate and ask the province to step up to do their part.”

The Alberta government is creating 450 additional temporary emergency shelter spaces for this winter, increasing overnight shelter capacity in the city to 1,072.

Meanwhile the City of Edmonton will be supporting the warming bus operated all winter by Boyle Street Community Services. The city is also supporting the Bissell Centre, allowing them to extend their hours.

“All provincially funded shelters are expected to provide 24/7 access, and capacity and access are further expanded during extreme weather responses,” said city spokesperson Noor Al-Henedy. “Ramping up to full capacity and operations is still underway.

“During extreme weather activations only, Edmonton Transit Service will operate bus routes designed to help transport vulnerable people to emergency shelters. Route plans and hours are still being finalized to ensure efficient and effective transport options are provided. In addition, Al Rashid Mosque has agreed to provide up to 75 overnight shelter spaces for extreme weather activations only.”

According to Homeward Trust, more than 2,700 Edmontonians are experiencing homelessness. Of those, more than 800 are believed to be living outdoors.

“One death is too many and we need to make sure that we are working hard to look after the most vulnerable Edmontonians in our region, that they are provided the necessary support they need,” said Sohi.