Things many of us take for granted—a shower before going to work, a place for our children to do homework, a safe spot to keep our belongings—simply do not exist when you don’t have a home of your own.

Homeward Trust aims to change this reality. We’re opening doors and building hope for thousands of Edmontonians, ultimately realizing our city’s shared goal of ending homelessness.

Homelessness in Edmonton

Until recently, we saw an upward trend of homeless persons in Edmonton. Homeward Trust conducts a biennial Homeless Count, which provides a point-in-time snapshot of the city’s homeless population. 

In 2010:
 

• 2,421 homeless Edmontonians were counted.
   
• Compared to 2008, 658 fewer homeless individuals were counted in 2010, for a reduction of 21%.
  This is the first time a reduction in the number of homeless has occurred since the initial count conducted in 1999.
  
  
• Adult males account for 75% of the total homeless population.
  Though the number of males and females declined at roughly the same rate (20%) between 2008 and 2010, males accounted for 77% of the total 1999 to 2010 increase in the number of adult homeless.
  
  
• The Edmonton homeless adult population is between the ages of 31 and 54, comprising 61% of the total adult population.
  Between 2004 and 2010, a small aging trend is observed.
  
  
• Forty per cent of the homeless adults are Caucasian and 38% are Aboriginal.
  Comparatively, just five per cent of the total Edmonton population is Aboriginal.
  
  
• Of the 71 families counted, 76% were headed by a single parent.
  This type of family structure increased to as high as 100% among the sheltered homeless.
  
  
• Homelessness affects children’s physical, mental and emotional health, and academic and cognitive development.
  Early intervention can reverse many of these effects.

Figure 1: Total Number of Homeless¹ by Count Date

Figure 2: Type of Homelessness1 by Count Date

Demographics

Regarding the 2,421 clients that were counted (this data excludes the demographics of 146 cases whose demographic information was not reported):

Available Services

The following is a list of drop-in centres, shelters and locations that offer meal service. For more information on any of these venues, please contact us at 780.496.7290 or info@homewardtrust.ca.

Drop-in Centres

• Boyle Street Community Services
• Bissell Centre
• Jasper Place Health and Wellness Centre
• Mosaic Centre
• Youth Emergency Shelter-Armoury
• Salvation Army Crossroads Community Church
• Old Strathcona Youth Co-op (youth)

Shelters

• Hope Mission
  • Herb Jamieson
  • Women's Shelter
  • Youth Shelter
• George Spady (detox)
• Youth Emergency Shelter (for youth aged 16-24)
• YMCA (small fee required)
• Women's Emergency Accommodation
• Salvation Army Short-Term Residence

Meal Service

• Boyle Street Community Services
• Bissell Centre
• Jasper Place Health and Wellness Centre 
• Fort Road Victory Church
• House of Refuge
• The Mustard Seed
• Hope Mission
• Marian Centre
• B's Diner
• St. Peter's Lutheran Church
• Operation Friendship (Seniors)