Taking a closer look at how an Edmonton supportive housing site operates

A building on 97 Street and 103 Avenue in Edmonton is home to supportive housing units for vulnerable women. Boyle Street opened its door to the public Monday offering an opportunity for Edmontonians to see what it offers and how it operates!

“I look out my window every day and I see people who are homeless getting shoved down the street,” said Gail Silvius.

Silvius lives in Edmonton’s McCauley neighbourhood, just a few blocks away from the supportive housing complex at the Stovel block. After touring the site Monday, Silvius told CityNews she’s happy to see this supportive home offering what she says, is “a safe place” for some vulnerable women in her neighbourhood. 

“I think women on the street yes they will be victimized. I don’t care who you are you deserve shelter, you deserve a roof.”

The site, known as “sakhita kikinaw” in Cree or “the house of love” was first opened in 2021 offering 27 beds for women experiencing homelessness with access to staff on site 24/7 as well as harm reduction services.

“Considering a lot of trauma that some of these women go through when they’re out on the street it’s important to have a space where they can feel safe and secure, where they can work on rebuilding themselves before they can get back out into the real world,” said Rychelle Cole, the housing choice program manager with Boyle Street Community Services.

Behind the doors is a combination of shared rooms, semi-private, and private rooms in addition to a shared kitchen area, living room space, showers, and a bathroom.

“One of the great things about this program is that you don’t have to have a housing worker which can be a barrier sometimes because there’s quite a long waitlist to get a housing worker in most agencies,” said Cole.

The supportive housing complex was funded privately through donations and fundraising.

For Silvius, “Shelters are not going to be enough we need long-term supportive housing.”