No one program or program type can reduce homelessness in the community—it is the relationship between interventions that ultimately work towards the goal of preventing and ending homelessness.
Short Term Supportive Housing—an important part of the continuum
Iskwewak Iskotew Nihkotawan – Women’s Fire Lodge
Operator: Esquao-Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women
Units: 20
Opened: 2023
Community Contact: Kerri Brisson, kbrisson@iaaw.ca
The Women’s Fire Lodge, Iskwewak Iskotew Nihkotawan, offers short-term housing solutions for Indigenous women leaving correctional facilities, experiencing, or at-risk of, experiencing homelessness.
With the goal of transitioning residents to permanent housing solutions, Esquao entered into a partnership with Homeward Trust to lease a 20-suite apartment building for short-term supportive housing. Opened in 2023, Women’s Fire Lodge delivers a recovery oriented approach and supports women experiencing homelessness to move into independent and permanent housing as quickly as possible, with no preconditions. The maximum duration of stay for residents is set at 18 months.
The Fire Lodge provides a safe, affordable place to live with access to health, wellness, and life supports for the unique experiences of Indigenous women including those coming out of the correctional system who may never have had a stable home due to systemic racism, poverty and the destruction of the family unit. It also provides opportunities to build social connections and participate in recreational programming to build skills, cultural knowledge, and the confidence to thrive, as residents transition into permanent market housing.
Learn more here
Pregnancy Pathways Home
Operator: Radius Community Health & Healing
Units: 14
Opened: 2017
Community Contact: Lesley Spry-Shandro, lspryshandro@radiushealth.ca
Good Neighbour Statement of Operations: Please read the statement here
Every year, approximately 100 women in Edmonton experience homelessness while pregnant. Due to factors such as struggles with mental health and addiction, precarious housing, lack of knowledge about available prenatal services, and more, many pregnant women facing homelessness do not receive adequate prenatal care.
To address this situation the Pregnancy Pathways Home, in partnership with various community supporters, provides women with their own dedicated apartment, 24/7 staffing and on-site supports, pre-natal and post-natal care, a gathering space to build community and foster peer support, and support to build life and parenting skills.
Pregnancy Pathways makes long-lasting, positive impacts on the lives of the women participating in the program, and their babies transitioning pregnant women and new moms into a more stable situation in terms of both health and housing.
Learn more here.
Shirley’s Place
Operator: Elizabeth Fry Society Of Northern Alberta
Units: 17
Opened: 2024
Community Contact: Allyson Paynter, allyson.paynter@efrynorthernalberta.com
Named after the first Executive Director of the Elizabeth Fry Society of Northern Alberta, Shirley’s Place offers temporary supportive housing for women experiencing homelessness and transitioning from shelters.
Women can stay for up to 18 months and must be able to live independently to qualify for the program. Each unit includes a kitchenette and a private washroom. Services provided include daily check-ins, workshops on topics such as healthy relationships, recovery, anger management, financial literacy, cultural programs, goal setting, connections and referrals to community resources, budgeting support, and systems advocacy. The building also houses a thrift shop and has a space for cultural events.
sakihta kikinaw
Operator: Boyle Street Community Services
Units: 27
Opened: 2021
Community Contact: Stephanie Wynnyk, swynnyk@boylestreet.org
sakihta kikinaw (Cree for “house of love”) provides flexible, low-income housing for female-identifying people as a safe place to stay for as long as they need before transitioning into permanent housing. The flexible housing model helps those dealing with chronic homelessness and complex needs by connecting them to all the services they need before they move into long-term housing.
Boyle Street provides programming and 24/7 on-site workers to help support residents. Individual suites and a shared kitchen space allow residents to further develop a sense of community, confidence and self-worth as they work to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness.
Learn more here
Nova & The LOFT
Operator: Edmonton John Howard Society
NOVA Units: 20
LOFT Units: 6
Opened: 2008
Community Contact: Ashleigh Bean, abean@johnhoward.org
NOVA Good Neighbour Statement of Operations: Please read the statement here
LOFT Good Neighbour Statement of Operations: Please read the statement here
To help young people transition from homelessness to stability, the Edmonton John Howard Society, funded by Homeward Trust, offers a safe, supported living environment as they improve their well-being, develop life skills to make positive lifestyle choices and live independent, productive lives in the community.
The LOFT provides a short-term stay of up to seven days for young people striving to achieve sobriety. The program aims to help them develop life skills, access resources, and generate income to support independent living. Participation is voluntary and focuses on fostering independence and engaging in the Encouraged Savings Program. The ultimate goal is to assist residents in achieving financial independence, demonstrating their ability to live independently, maintaining meaningful daily activities, and finding safe and sustainable housing.
NOVA also provides a short-term stay for young people who are encouraged to establish and pursue goals tailored to address their specific needs and challenges. The Rest Program offers temporary accommodation for up to seven days, while the Stay Program extends this support for up to 18 months.
Learn more about The LOFT here and link to the brochure here
