Canada

“What we need in this city is not just affordable housing, as in housing that's 80 per cent of market value,” said Strikwerda. “We need social housing that's geared to income.”

I took a drive downtown yesterday during the day. Homeless are laid down on the concrete sidewalks with blankets. There were some nasty -20C and worse days in Edmonton. The UCP don't care, neither did EPS under McFee, and I point out the silence from Edmonton Police on the subject.

There are many reasons why people may not go to a shelter even when space is available, such as feeling unsafe due to past experience.

A controversial practice in both Edmonton and Calgary has been to dismantle tents and homeless encampments. Both cities confirmed that policy will continue this winter, citing safety concerns.

“When the city responds to an encampment, we do not simply ‘take it down,’” said a statement from a City of Calgary spokesperson.

“Our teams engage directly with occupants and ensure they are offered safe, warm alternatives before any structure is removed. No encampment is dismantled without providing support and connections to appropriate services and shelter options. The goal is always to reduce harm, prevent exposure to the elements, and create a safer outcome than if someone remained outdoors.”